GOVERNMENT POLICIES, ENGAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION

In this enlightening episode on "Government Policies, Engagement, and Collaboration", I had the pleasure of engaging with a remarkable law student who is also a farmer.

We delved into the existing government policies, particularly the Agricultural Sector and Growth Strategy—a visionary 10-year plan aiming to bring farmers together in associations to have access to credit and loan facilities, creating a promising landscape for agricultural growth. However, we couldn't ignore the fact that these incentives aren't laser-focused on the youth.

We shed light on the need for policy amendments, suggesting a transformative approach to idle government land, where a policy could be enacted, allowing young farmers to acquire and cultivate unused government land—a step towards making agriculture a viable alternative to formal employment for the youth.

We also discussed existing incentives like subsidies on fertilizers, equipment, and farm chemicals but acknowledged the gap in youth-centric policies. Our guest, envisioned a future where, as a policymaker, he'd lay keen interest in giving farmers direct control over determining market prices—a move that could revolutionize the agricultural landscape.

We touched on the potential for workshops and subsidies from the government, making agriculture an attractive prospect for the youth. Tune in to our SoundCloud episode or click on the link provided to listen in on the conversation.