1 / 16

Mauritius Case Study Nawsheen Hosenally 5 th September 2012

Mauritius Case Study Nawsheen Hosenally 5 th September 2012. Country Background. 2045 km2 Population: 1,3 million Economy based on different sectors Agriculture Textile Financial Tourism ICTs. Youth Demographics. “Youth” is defined as a person between 14 and 29 years of age

damien
Download Presentation

Mauritius Case Study Nawsheen Hosenally 5 th September 2012

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Mauritius Case StudyNawsheen Hosenally5th September 2012

  2. Country Background • 2045 km2 • Population: 1,3 million • Economy based on different sectors • Agriculture • Textile • Financial • Tourism • ICTs

  3. Youth Demographics • “Youth” is defined as a person between 14 and 29 years of age • Youth population between 15-29 years old was estimated to be 306,532 (CSO, 2010) • 23.9% of total population • 154,863 (12.1%) males and 151,669 (11.8%) females

  4. Youth Demographics • Youth and Education • Literacy rate is 88% • Primary & secondary education free • Youth and Employment • Minimum legal working age is 16 years old • Unemployment rate is 7.9% • 38% below 25 years of age • Urban and Rural youth • Difference not very clear-cut • Pockets of poverty in north and eastern coast

  5. Agriculture Background • Contributes to 4% of GDP • Arable land: 43% • Sugarcane, tea and tobacco (33%), Food crops and others (28%), Livestock and Poultry (22%), Government services (13%), Fishing (4%) • CAADP Status: About to sign • Challenge: • High Imports (>70% - Approx 1billion USD) • Ageing farming population & lack of youth interest in Agriculture

  6. Youth Perceptions • Generally perceived negatively by youths • Different categories of youths interviewed • Youth of different field of studies from University of Mauritius • Youth engaged in Agriculture (producers and entrepreneurs) • Each category has its own perception

  7. Youth Perceptions • “Agriculture can help solve world issues like poverty and food security” • “No opinion. It’s just not meant for me” • “I am studying engineering and intend to get a job in the same field, but I see Agriculture as a good business opportunity, and it will be my part-time activity.” • “I have been in Agriculture for years and despite all challenges, this is where I belong”

  8. Youth Perceptions • “Agriculture does not pay because it a luck business”, RamadhaniSigareti, young horticultural farmer in Morogoro region” • “Agriculture takes time to earn money and it is always unpredictable”, Elizabeth Singu, youth member UVIKIUTA • “I have never seen a successful young farmer in my entire life; there are no role models in agriculture, Elizabeth Singu, youth member UVIKIUTA.

  9. Youth Perceptions • “Although I am doing Bsc in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, I would like to work in a bank or telecommunication industry because agriculture doesn’t pay”, Kijagwa Gerald, Bsc. Agribusiness, second year student SUA, Morogoro. • “If you look at the conditions of the farmers, there is no way you can be attracted to be a farmer”, Samson Simangwi, Bsc. Agribusiness, third year student SUA.

  10. Youth Perceptions • Negative • Old-fashioned activity for the elderly and poor people (Subsistence v/s commercial, farm to eat v/s farm for income) • A field for residual youth (Failure – lowest class student) • Difficult job – too laborious • Low income generating sector (No money in Agriculture, issue: it takes too long to get results)

  11. Youth Perceptions • Positive • High opportunities in Agribusiness and entrepreneurship • Leisure (Health, Exercise, Diet Issue) • Address poverty – eliminate climate change • Discipline

  12. Challenges • Lack of enabling environments • Society • Schools • Governments • Incentives

  13. Opportunities • Changing the negative perception of youth on Agriculture can help solve many issues • Food Security • Poverty • Unemployment

  14. Recommendation • Re-brand Agriculture • Through ICTs • National campaigns • Magazines • Introducing Agriculture in school

  15. Recommendation

More Related