The global conversation on the future of work must extend to the sectors that form the bedrock of our economies. For Africa, this means fundamentally reimagining the talent pipeline for agriculture – the continent’s largest employer. This interview delves into a critical workforce development strategy: transforming the perception and reality of agricultural careers to solve pressing HR challenges like youth unemployment, skills gaps, and sustainable economic growth. We speak with Dr. Ikechi Agbugba, a visionary not just in agricultural economics, but in strategic human capital re-engineering. His work focuses on the essential HR imperative of aligning a new generation’s aspirations with the sector’s need for innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurial talent. Through initiatives like the Brain Re-engineering Initiative, Dr. Agbugba addresses core HR functions: skills development, mindset change, and creating attractive career pathways that ensure retention and growth. At The HR Anchor, we explore how industry leaders are building resilient workforces. In this exclusive discussion, Dr. Agbugba shares his insights on talent attraction, the role of technology in job design, and how to foster an ecosystem of entrepreneurship within a traditional sector. He provides a compelling case study on leveraging human potential to drive food security, economic development, and a more equitable future of work in Africa.
About Dr. Ikechi Agbugba: Dr. Ikechi Agbugba is an Associate Professor of Agricultural Marketing at Rivers State University, Nigeria, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). As a leading voice in agricultural development, he consults for international bodies like the United Nations and has an extensive publication record. His pioneering “Brain Re-engineering Concept” is fundamentally an HR and talent development strategy, designed to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of youth and strategically align human capital with the transformative needs of the agri-food industry.
Can you start by telling us a bit about your background and what inspired you to focus on rebranding agriculture for the younger generation in Africa especially your home country, Nigeria
I was raised at the University of Nigeria Nsukka Campus where my parents worked. My dad was a very good man to the core. He was disciplined and demonstrated integrity, respect, and responsibility to his immediate family and outsiders. Growing up in that environment offered me a unique, vibrant, and intellectually stimulating environment, as well as unparalleled access to educational, cultural, and recreational resources such as the UNN Zoological Garden, where I saw a life lion, crocodile, monkeys, chimpanzee, to mention a few. I also visited the swimming pool, where I also encountered the Surinam cherry (Eugenia uniflora) fruit, also widely known as the pitanga or Brazilian cherry. This distinctive, vibrant red, ribbed fruit is an edible tropical berry. I could remember that excitement welling up in me whenever we trespassed the swimming pool area through the Health and Physical Science Facility where the Basketball and Lawn Tennis Court were situated. Aside the church campus choir, (where I was exposed to good negro spiritual music, classicals, hymns, chants, lullabies and native songs), I was also a member of the University of Nigeria Chorus, as well as Achinivu-Harcourt Whyte Chorale. I was amongst the choristers who sand for the Late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe during his 90th birthday and during his final obsequies in 1996. Through the choir, I became exposed to public ministrations, speaking and performances even in government houses, birthdays and funerals. I am beginning to appreciate those good old days when we were exposed in the right manner.
As the last child of the family, my mum was particular about having and seeing me manage our home garden which comprises of the crop section and livestock (mainly the poultry farm). My biological mother was my first agricultural science teacher and always ensured that I weed the farm and kept the environment clean as much as I could. She taught me how to plant cuttings of cassava stem, and sow seeds of maize, okra, and fluted pumpkin (ugu). On my own, I started experimenting with how to plant stems of waterleaf, bitter leaf, scent and curry leaves, and of course that was one of the exciting times in my life sleeping and waking up to engage with my friends especially during holidays. At any time, my interest began to dwindle, my mum would come up with a reward plan and strategy to make the activity more attractive. Taking a trip down the memory lane, I could recall that I was the only student in my graduating set at the University of Nigeria Secondary School that applied to study agriculture at the tertiary level. In those days, I could tell that my sojourn in this space sounded uncanny or weird and I still have a vivid memory about this and how youngsters and youths of Nigeria and Africa nurse a negative feeling or express a disinterested attitude about pursuing a career in that space probably due to the deep-seated cultural issues. Truly, agriculture is often perceived as ‘not cool’ or a low-status, dirty job with a stigma passed down through generations, with parents often discouraging their children from pursuing farming, preferring they seek respectable urban, white-collar jobs. A dominant view amongst youngsters and agriculture is that it is for the older, and less-educated population, making it unappealing to the youth looking for modern, technology-driven careers.
Interrogating my mum recently what was prompting her to send me to the farm and all those moves she exhibited surprised me, as response was that she felt I should be more engaged in the farm than engage in excessive play arounds campus. She felt agriculture would make me responsible. Truly, my mum’s approach was a major influence on my decision to chart my career course in the agriculture domain. I later trained as agricultural economist at the University of Nigeria Nsukka same institution. Interestingly, I proceeded to MSc and PhD in the same department with special interest in Agribusiness and Marketing. Today, I am an Associate Professor of Agricultural Marketing at the Rivers State University.
Regarding my passion and focused work on rebranding agriculture for the younger generation in Africa especially in Nigeria was as a result of my observations from friends and agemates in their negative feeling and perception about agriculture and my research and travel experiences to Asia, other African nations and he potential, as well as the progress agriculture is making (as a primary, traditional and real sector) in contributing to driving economy wide growth. My trip to Malaysia was an incredible one seeing disease and pest free oil palm trees everywhere along Kuala Lumpur Road through Johor Bahru to Singapore and that simply amazed me. Can you believe that Malaysia’s economic growth was clearly and significantly supported by her agriculture sector, specifically through the strategic development of palm oil, with historical ties to Nigeria playing a fundamental role in driving agricultural development. While the economies of Malaysia and other South-East Asian countries (such as Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia) are currently experiencing diversification by their services and manufacturing sector, agriculture remains a vital, high-growth sector. Today, Indonesia is leading in palm oil and other oil palm products from a global standpoint. Food is basic, and primary life need and a fundamental human right, with the agriculture sector serving as the essential engine for ensuring global food and nutritional security, and, in many cases, rural livelihoods. Truly, agriculture is responsible for producing the diverse range of crops, livestock, and raw materials necessary to sustain a growing global population, with demand expected to rise significantly by 2050.
During our assignment with the United Nations, colleagues and high-level expert panel concluded that the younger generation are key to revamping the food and agricultural systems of Africa. In this advent of technology and industry 4.0, the pace and progress agriculture in majority of African countries is making from a developmental viewpoint is still slow. Owing to the fact that agriculture is a bedrock of Nigeria’s economy, as well as other African economies, providing livelihoods for roughly 65-70% of their population and contributing between 30-40% to their GDP, the time for her government and development stakeholders should arise and invest in agriculture. Since the younger generation are attracted by scientific and technologically driven agriculture, it is high time attention must be given to unlocking opportunities for them in both agricultural supply and value chains. Agriculture and the business of it is the primary economic activity for many, supporting rural communities, driving food security, and contributing about 30% export value. Despite high employment, the sector remains under-invested and vulnerable to climate change but musters great potential for economic development.
Adapting the Brain Re-engineering Initiative to agriculture is focused on building capacity with the younger generation, governments and stakeholders of development on the potential of agriculture as a green gold that provides financial independence, far surpassing the lure of scarce white-collar jobs. It is clear to rebrand the minds of young Nigerians and young Africans that farming in the 21st century has advanced to the employment of drones, AI, blockchain and digital marketplaces, promoting it as a tech-forward modern industry. The younger generation are drawn to sectors that utilize modern technology that integrate AI, drones, precision agriculture, and IoT sensors to alleviate labour, optimize yields, and make farming easy and convenient. I have this deep-seated commitment within my resources that helping eliminate hunger and alleviating poverty is my life-long passion and I have always believed that if we all can empower one youth to start some farming, they wouldn’t just feed themselves but feed their community and further create jobs for others. My personal belief that while many things in life can fail, the demand for food is a certainty. Farming is not a gamble; it is a game of certainty and fulfilment. As Africa’s giant, Nigeria must arise and position herself again especially in unlocking her agricultural potentials through the younger generation. Government must protect and promote the interest of the younger generation.
The Brain Re-engineering Concept and Reimagination is a multi-dimensional, and technology-driven approach which can be split into knowledge and skill acquisition embedded in change of perception, entrepreneurship, technology, sustainability and circular economy, as well as social equity in public policy. Truly, the youngsters and youths should be re-informed, re-taught and re-educated to re-engineer their minds towards agriculture and these form the pillar of brain re-engineering.
May I state that the Brain Re-engineering is a system strategy that can be adapted in actualising the 17 sustainable development goals agenda of the United Nations. However, permit me to read out a comment from an analyst on Brain Re-engineering. I believe that summarises my agenda for driving this initiative.
‘’His focus on rebranding is driven by the need to shift the perception of agriculture from a “survivalist activity” to a dynamic, technology-driven business.
- Brain Re-Engineering: Agbugba advocates for a paradigm shift he calls “Brain Re-Engineering,” which targets the negative or outdated ideologies young people often have about farming—associating it with poverty or manual labour.
- Youth as Drivers of Innovation: He believes the “fourth industrial revolution (4IR)” offers a unique window for African youth to lead through AI, IoT, and blockchain. By integrating these technologies, he aims to make agriculture an attractive, profitable, and prestigious career choice for Nigeria’s growing youth population.
- Addressing the Food Crisis: His work is deeply rooted in the reality of Nigeria’s food security challenges. He views youth engagement not just as a job creation strategy, but as a critical necessity for achieving sustainable food systems and economic growth.’
Your framework, the Brain Re-engineering Initiative, takes a unique approach to attracting youth to agriculture. Can you walk us through the core principles behind this initiative?
Yes, it is unique. It is originally created from my transformative, emotionally intense experience, as well as lasting, and profound memories on my sojourn in the agriculture domain.
From my distinctive approach on Brain Re-Engineering, it is a framework designed to rebrand agriculture and attract youth by shifting deep-seated perceptions, a last resort, labour-intensive, and poverty-stricken endeavour to a high-tech, profitable, and purpose-driven business. It operates on the core belief that agriculture is not a poor man’s struggle but a primary sector foundational to industrial growth. This conceptual ideology resonates and can be viewed from the lenses of the works of classical economists and thinkers like Adam Smith, David Ricardo, and Thomas Malthus whose concepts focusses on exceeding the mercantilism to production, labour, and capital accumulation as the primary engines of economic prosperity. I also facilitate a Masters (MSc) degree class at the Rivers State University on Theory of Economic Growth and Development and I wish to underscore that while classical economics focused on the early stages of industrialization, it set the stage for modern thought from hoarding gold to producing and expanding national output (mercantilists). Classical principles of free trade, deregulation, and private property were revived in the 20th century to form the basis of modern globalization (neoliberalism). While modern, endogenous growth theories focus more on technological innovation from within the system, they still build upon the classical emphasis on investment and capital accumulation (from complementary to modern theory).
Adapting the Brain Re-engineering initiative to agriculture hinges on 5 key pillars which are:
Pillar 1: Change of Perceptions – Addresses the perception problem by intentionally changing negative mindsets that view agriculture as manual, unfulfilling, or low-status. It uses education and media to show agriculture as a sophisticated, high-status business.
Pillar 2: Ideation & Entrepreneurship – Focuses on building agripreneurial capacity. It encourages young people to be original and creative, developing new business ideas that span the entire value chain, not just cultivation.
Pillar 3: Technological Integration – Leverages on industry 4.0 or fourth industrial revolution (4IR) tools such as AI, drones, blockchain, and precision farming with the aim of making agriculture attractive for the younger generation by shifting the focus from manual labour to digital and technical expertise.
Pillar 4: Sustainability and circular economy – Ensures long-term viability by integrating climate-resilient and environmentally conscious practices, aligning the framework with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Also, ensures a shift from the ‘take-make-waste” approach to a model of design, repair, recycle and reuse to foster a sustainable and restorative economy.
Pillar 5: Social Equity in Public Policy – Advocates for fairness and justice in policy, ensuring individuals especially the youths and then women to have equal access to resources such as funding, land, and subsidies.
You mention it’s a 5-pillar approach. Can you elaborate on what each of these pillars entails and how they work together to rebrand agriculture?
Perception Change: In some areas, agriculture is still perceived by the youth as a low-status, antiquated, outdated, unprofitable or labour-intensive job. This entails identifying where the wrong ideologies about agriculture and how it can change. It must be noted that perceptions are heavily influenced by expectations. It encourages them to view agriculture as innovative, entrepreneurial, and economically viable. This entails reframing farming as a high-tech business rather than manual labour. Truly, targeted efforts and new programmes are being organised to change the negative perceptions that agriculture is only for the elderly or uneducated, aiming to attract youth into agribusiness.
Ideation and Entrepreneurship: After perceptions shift, young people are encouraged to generate ideas and turn them into agribusiness ventures. Within this framework, ideation and entrepreneurship are treated as a dual-basis process. Training programs and workshops help aspiring entrepreneurs develop the initiative and resourcefulness needed to manage modern agribusinesses. Innovation is of essence and focuses on introducing original business models that go beyond primary production, including agro-ecology, vertical farming, and digital supply chain logistics. The goal is to create decent employment opportunities that attract younger generations to solve global challenges like food insecurity and climate change.
Furthermore, this entails encouraging young entrepreneurs to move beyond primary production into value-addition and service provision. Key areas for innovation include:
- Developing AI, blockchain, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications to optimize supply chains and farming (i.e.. agricultural startups)
- Using drones, sensors, and GPS technology to reduce inputs (fertilizer, water) and increase yield (precision farming)
- Utilizing smart, indoor, or urban farming techniques (Vertical Farming and Controlled Environment Agriculture).
- Building businesses around food processing, packaging, and branding to improve product value (agroprocessing or agro-industrialisation).
- Offering specialized services such as drone-based monitoring, IoT data analysis, or farm management software (service provision).
Technological Integration: This focuses on leveraging technology such as drones, artificial intelligence, blockchain, internet of things, and precision farming to improve efficiency, productivity, and sustainability while reducing labour intensity and enhancing competitiveness.
This entails utilizing GPS and information technology for targeted care of crops and soil to optimize health, yield, and sustainability. Also, the need to implement the use of AI, blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), and agricultural drones for monitoring, data analysis, and automated decision-making. The use of drones for pesticide and fertilizer application, indoor vertical farming, bee vectoring, and robotics for autonomous farming should be fostered. More, the use of digital tools for real-time monitoring of soil, water, and crop health, enabling proactive, data-driven decisions (i.e. farm management software). The primary target is to get young people to see agriculture as an exciting career path, bridging the gap between aging farmers and digital-savvy youth. Addressing the urgent need for increased food production amid population growth, and land and water scarcity, using agribusiness to revive stagnant economies and improve agricultural value chain efficiency, and, managing environmental impacts while enhancing productivity to ensure long-term viability is all about amalgamating the diverse technological solutions on this.
Sustainability and Circular Economy: Sustainability ensures agriculture is environmentally, socially, and economically responsible. It emphasizes strategies that maintain long term productivity and safeguard resources for future generations. It is all important that regenerative practices that improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and enhance nutrient density should be employed as that would reduce reliance on chemical inputs and managing water and land resources more effectively. More so, the need to invest in enhancing the entire food supply chain for economic prosperity and security becomes paramount.
On the other hand, it is needful to invest on converting agricultural by-products into valuable resources, such as turning crop residues into biofuels and livestock manure into organic fertilizers. More so, agroforestry, permaculture, and organic farming which are regenerative go a long way to unlock soil health, conserve water, and boost biodiversity. This promotes utilizing IoT sensors for real-time monitoring and AI for predictive analytics to minimize waste in farming operations.
Social Equity in Public Policy: This pillar ensures fair access to resources and opportunities for young farmers. It addresses systemic inequities, fostering inclusive growth and stronger participation in the agricultural sector. Social equity in agricultural policy addresses systemic inequalities, ensuring that all stakeholders, particularly smallholder farmers and young agripreneurs, have equal access to opportunities, resources, and government assistance. Fostering equal rights to land, capital, and technology solutions is all about inclusivity. Moving away from uncoupled subsidies towards supporting, equitable policies that promote, not hinder, new entrants. Also, institutionalizing gender and youth inclusion in agricultural research, extension services, and decision-making. Finally combating Inequality by addressing the digital divide to ensure that technological advancements are accessible to smallholder farmers and not just large-scale operations.
What do you believe is the biggest misconception about agriculture among young people, and how does your framework address this?
Agriculture was once the backbone of the Nigerian economy. Prior to the oil boom of the 1970s, the sector contributed a dominant share of national output, employment, and export earnings. In the 1950s and 1960s, agriculture accounted for over 60 % of Nigeria’s GDP, and was the engine of growth for rural communities, supplying food and cash crops such as cocoa, palm oil, groundnuts, and cotton. Farmers produced about 95 % of the nation’s food requirements and generated the majority of foreign exchange, before crude oil took centre stage as the primary revenue source.
Yet, despite this rich legacy, today’s youth are overwhelmingly disinterested in agriculture, largely due to perception, not potential. Research shows that many young Nigerians view farming not as a viable career or business opportunity, but as tedious, low-income, and unattractive work. In studies among secondary and tertiary students, agriculture was often described as “a poor and unbecoming profession” or something only for retirees and those who could not secure white-collar jobs. Interestingly, report from researches we conducted on Covid-19 impact on the perception of young people indicates that a good number of them engaged or made effort to engage in practicing some farming.
The biggest misconception about agriculture is how it is trivialized. Many assume it is a sector for a select few, capable of sustaining society on its own without deliberate effort. Its potential to drive economic growth is vastly underestimated, and its value to humanity is often overlooked. Many view it as a low-income occupation, often overlooking the massive profitability of the agribusiness value chain. Truly, there is a deep-rooted belief that you must be on the farm, sweating and cultivating, ignoring the roles of technology, logistics, marketing, and finance. Many young people do not realize that modern agriculture involves drones, data analytics, and automation. It is unfairly perceived as a career for those who failed in formal education.
Young people often see agriculture as work for poor farmers and peasants. They chase white collar jobs and technology careers, unaware that market demands are changing. The world is moving toward entrepreneurship, and technology is now a key driver of food security, business growth, and job creation, the very foundations of national survival and economic progress.
Governments often pay lip service to agriculture, investing little or creating policies that fail to spur growth. Oil and easy loans remain prioritized, while farming is seen as slow and less profitable.
Yet reports show agriculture’s productivity could increase by 200 to 300 percent with modern inputs and technology, outperforming many other sectors.
This neglect reinforces the perception among young people that farming is tedious and less rewarding, keeping a potentially transformative sector underutilized. This perception persists due to multiple factors. Agriculture is seen as physically demanding and slow-rewarding, deterring youth with short attention spans or a preference for creative, tech-driven work. It is perceived as incapable of delivering the income and lifestyle young people aspire to. Curricula underplay practical agribusiness and modern farming, reinforcing the image of farming as primitive. Affluent families often view farming as a low-status fallback. International research confirms these patterns: pessimistic views of agriculture’s economic potential remain a major barrier to youth participation across Africa. The underscored biggest misconception among our youths is already explained as being tackled by the Brain Re-engineering Initiative.
The BRI framework encourages shifting from traditional, subsistence, and manual farming to a modern, commercial, and tech-driven approach and the core message emphasizes on the younger generation securing the future of food. Youth must see agriculture as attractive, a “sexier,” high-investment, and high-return business that is crucial for national economic growth.
The BRI encourages embracing agribusiness over just farming. In order words, there is need to understand that agriculture is a vast, interconnected web. Roles exist in logistics, marketing, financing, input supply, and processing, which do not require manual labour. Secondly, there is need to integrate modern technology by leveraging on industry 4.0 such as AI, and farm management software to increase productivity. The BRI encourages the younger generation to focus on engaging in processing and value-added services such as turning cassava into flour, processing fruits into juices as that maximizes profits rather than just selling raw produce. More so, the BRI focuses on adopting sustainable practices such as eco-friendly, climate-smart agriculture to ensure long-term profitability; Join cooperatives to share costs, access machinery, and gain better marketing power for products; and seeking knowledge and training to re-engineer their mindset by learning from experts about modern agricultural business models, rather than imitating traditional, inefficient methods.
This question is more than JAMB question, but it is of great essence. And you can see that the BRI is a whole-system strategy to fortified with the right steps and approach to rebrand Nigeria’s agriculture system. When this is actualised half-way, I can bet you that the percentage contribution of the agriculture sector to the GDP will triple in multiples. To a large extent, food security, job creation, exportation from agriculture, among other benefits will be largely actualised.
How do you see the Brain Re-engineering Initiative impacting the future of agriculture, not just in Nigeria but globally?
I could say that the BRI is a paradigm shift designed to transform agriculture from a back-breaking chore into a high-status, technology-driven business. It targets on the psychological and systemic barriers of Nigeria and other global south economies that keep youth and investors away from the sector to drive meaningful impact on the future of agriculture through by promoting the rebrand of farming as a lucrative, professional career, aiming to erase the stigma that agriculture is only for the poor or uneducated.
It will lead to capacity building among youths and further train youngsters and women to become agripreneurs, fostering innovative business models rather than just subsistence cultivation and this will drive economic revolution and lift nations out of poverty. Impact will definitely be created by leveraging on the fourth industrial revolution, integrating AI, drones, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) into daily operations which the brain re-engineering promotes. From a global perspective, integrating AI, drones, and IoT enables precision agriculture, has resulted in optimizing water and nutrient usage, increasing crop yields by 15–20%, and reduction of pesticide usage to about 85%.
Transparency through Blockchain is used to create secure, tamper-proof records from farm-to-consumer, enhancing food safety and traceability. Truly, the 4IR tools support low-carbon, sustainable farming, which is crucial for tackling climate change and enhancing food security. More so, the integration of Edge AI allows real-time data processing on devices, reducing reliance on constant cloud connectivity in remote areas. It focuses on long-term environmental viability through precision agriculture and regenerative practices to combat climate change. It further advocates for policy changes that ensure fair access to resources for marginalized groups, including women and early-career academics.
Brain re-engineering provides a framework to address food insecurity by mobilising Africa’s largest asset, her youth. Large-scale projects like BRAINS (Building Equitable Climate-Resilient African Bean and Insect Sector) are already applying these principles across 15 sub-Saharan countries to boost nutrition and income through bundled technologies like climate-smart beans and insect-based protein.
The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically addressing hunger (SDG 2), gender equality (SDG 5), and climate action (SDG 13). It serves as a blueprint for both developed and developing nations to revive struggling economies by modernizing the agricultural supply chain. By 2027, these types of integrated initiatives are projected to attract $1 billion in investments and generate hundreds of thousands of jobs, potentially reducing post-harvest losses by up to 80%
Can you share any success stories or testimonials from young people who have been impacted by your initiative?
Dr Ikechi: Of course, yes. I have published some articles, and more are still in press on the brain re-engineering initiative. Interestingly, the BRI is currently being developed as a programme for driving youth engagement in South Africa. Just at the onset of unveiling the BRI, I was invited as main speaker at the Writtle University College (now Anglia Ruskin University) to speak on the Brain Re-engineering as a career strategy for youngsters who could chart a career in the agriculture space. This event is called the New Faces for Farming Programme.
I adapted a part of this model during my United Nations CD4D2 assignment (sponsored by IOM Hague Office) on a Horticulture-based project at the Food Crop Production Technology Transfer Station, Ubiaja in Edo State Nigeria. See link: https://connectingdiaspora.org/driving-sustainable-change-in-nigeria/
More so, I am currently employing BRI for the Masters course (Project Planning and Appraisal) at the Rivers State University Agricultural and Applied Economics I am also working with a group from Rwanda on this and it is a welcome idea positioned to transform Africa’s economy. See link: https://agrifoodnetworks.org/article/youth-brain-re-engineering-developing-agricultural-entrepreneurship-in-afri
Link: https://agrifoodnetworks.org/article/brain-re-engineering-can-boost-food-security-in-africa
One of the key challenges in agriculture is making it profitable. How does your framework incorporate agribusiness and entrepreneurship to make agriculture an attractive venture for young people?
Dr Ikechi: Making agriculture attractive and profitable for the younger generation is key to drive transformation globally and requires this paradigm shift to rebrand agriculture in such a way that they begin to find agriculture as a viable option to invest in.
Making Agriculture Profitable through the BRI is all about promoting the appropriate knowledge and skill for youths to encourage them to shift from primary production to value-chain integration (to further promote trade among nations), which is the end of the BRI. By adopting agritech solutions such as precision agriculture can cut input costs by 20–30% while increasing yields. For value addition, instead of selling raw crops, young farmers are encouraged to engage in agro-processing, packaging, and direct digital marketing to consumers, bypassing expensive middlemen. The cassava value chain is getting more attractive by day. I was in a meeting where some Ghanaian youths were speaking to a Canada-based German lady on building a formidable cassava ecosystem and I was mind blown.
There are viable options on agriculture for the Nigerian youth due their high demand. BRI promotes venturing within their ecosystem of agriculture (within supply and value chains) holds a great potential for the young investors. Aside from cassava, maize, plantain, and vegetables (bell peppers, tomatoes) wield a fast turnover and market demand. Profitable livestock ventures include poultry (chickens, turkeys), aquaculture (catfish), and snail farming should be promoted. Youth are encouraged to use modern, tech-driven methods, such as precision farming, to maximize productivity, and that is part of the reasons why I am now advocating for diaspora engagement in identifiable opportunities for driving productive collaboration. Alternatively, the BRI model promises quick-return methods such as hydroponics, aeroponics, and vertical farming allow for year-round production with minimal land, make them ideal for the younger generation.
To foster digitalisation, mentorship and early exposure, using social media and mobile apps ranging from weather forecasts to e-commerce appeals to the digital native generation is what BRI promotes. BRI is somewhat specific in identifying the options that best promises
Connecting youth with successful role models helps build confidence and provides a roadmap for career progression. Also, integrating agricultural subjects into school curricula at primary and secondary levels helps normalise the sector as a viable career path early on.
For livestock subsector, the BRI presents a wholesome opportunity of high profitability and rapid turnover for broiler (meat) and layer (egg) production. For aquaculture (catfish and tilapia) production, the BRI presents a high lucrative opportunity since it uses small-space, intensive systems like concrete tanks or cages. For Snail farming (heliculture), low capital, low risk, and high export potential is required. For goat and sheep, BRI promises a suitable option for local and regional markets with lower overheads compared to cattle.
How do you plan to scale the Brain Re-engineering Initiative to reach a wider audience, and what kind of support do you need to make this happen?
Allow me to revisit some variables about the Brain Re-engineering Initiative. Since it is a developmental context which is already explained, scaling it up will require moving from localized pilot projects to systematic, large-scale implementation. It is of great essence to firstly, build a solid evidence base. Before full-scale rollout, test the re-engineering concept in a limited setting to identify barriers, and then identify existing, successful regreening or re-engineering efforts and further analyse the key factors behind their success. Secondly, just like SDG 17, foster partnerships and networks by engage in interdisciplinary collaboration. It is clear that no single entity can solve complex problems. It becomes necessary to create networks around the academia, the public sector, and private industry and this is exactly the APP framework. Establish data platforms to create shared, accessible, and maintained repositories for data, allowing for wider collaboration and faster innovation. And then, the public-private-philanthropic partnerships (PPPP) by utilising these partnerships to drive funding and implementation for BR economy-based projects. Thirdly, a scaling-up to implement a systematic expansion by focus on capacity building to ensure that the necessary skills are developed within the target group especially youths and farmers to handle the emerging agtechs. Also, transforming pilot projects into large systems by creating standardized procedures, which reduces the unpredictability of expansion, as well as focus on digital transformation by utilizing AI, data analytics, and digital tools to enhance productivity and facilitate remote management such as remote digital agricultural platforms. Fourthly is to create an enabling environment. Addressing policy and legal barriers to review and change, if necessary, the legal framework to encourage, rather than hinder, new methods and technologies. Also, develop communication strategy by creating a clear strategy to communicate the benefits of the re-engineering approach to stakeholders, helping to shift the mindset from traditional to innovative. Fifthly, the importance of an ethical and sustainable approach cannot be overstated. For inclusivity and ethics, it is imperative to ensure that the BRI are ethically sound, sustainable, and inclusive of youth and women. Identify long-term impact can be actualised by considering the long-term, multi-generational impact of these changes on food security and economic prosperity.
What role do you see technology playing in the future of agriculture, and how is this incorporated into the Brain Re-engineering Initiative?
Let me start by saying that technology is a game-changer and throughout my years in the agriculture space, I can boldly tell you that technology is a major blessing in agricultural supply and value chains.
Technology is transforming agriculture from a labour-intensive, reactive industry into a data-driven, precise, and sustainable sector, often referred to as Agriculture 4.0. With the global population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, requiring a 60–70% increase in food production, technology is essential for enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and resilience
Technology in agriculture is the fourth pillar of the BRI and it plays a vital role in increasing food production efficiency, sustainability, and profitability through precision farming, automation, and data analytics. Provided a specific tech solution aligns with driving efficiency, effectiveness and prosperity in the agriculture space
The key emerging innovations include GPS-guided equipment, IoT sensors, drones, and AI and they optimize water usage, reduce chemical applications, manage labour shortages, and boost crop yields to meet global demand. Modern technology leverages digital, physical, and biological innovations to improve productivity, sustainability, and resource management.
While agriculture applies technology to increase yield, brain re-engineering applies technology to improve function and drive transformation through some sustainable approach to actualise change of perception, entrepreneurship, equity and inclusivity with reliance on AI and machine learning for processing complex data and sensor technology.
Therefore, success of the BRI in agriculture hinges on overcoming specific hurdles farming from production, processing, distribution and consumption. The level of technology adoption among the younger generation is faster compared to older or less educated farmers who often find farming a herculean task. Reliable internet and electricity are essential for IoT and real-time monitoring. Land tenure security and access to credit are fundamental drivers that encourage long-term technological investment. Hence, the BRI is effective and is said to more efficient in the presence of technology. Peer-to-peer learning and neighbourhood effects are powerful catalysts for the BRI in rural communities.
Hope this is clear enough, Mr Samuel!
What advice would you give to young people who are interested in pursuing a career in agriculture or agribusiness, but may be unsure where to start
Interesting question! I am a lover of young people. I feel I am still there and I know some young and vibrant persons are emerging with and in full force to take the stage. For young people interested in agriculture or agribusiness who are unsure where to start, the industry offers a diverse, technology-driven, and essential career path. The most important advice is to start small, gain practical experience, and embrace continuous learning. There are practical structured guides on how to begin your career in agriculture, and I am working on that alongside the Brain Re-engineering Initiative. Young people interested in agriculture and agribusiness in developed nations are entering a sector that is increasingly defined by technology, sustainability, and high-value, specialized roles. With a high demand for skilled professionals to replace an aging workforce, opportunities are particularly strong and emerging in AgTech, precision farming, sustainable production, and corporate agribusiness management. Emerging top career paths revolves around precision agriculture; sustainable agriculture and environmental science (with areas focused on carbon farming, regenerative agriculture, and biodiversity, such as sustainability specialists, climate advisors, and soil health experts); agribusiness management and finance (with opportunities in corporate farming, agricultural lending, and managing large-scale operations); specialized agronomy (with experts focusing on optimizing crop yields, pest control, and disease management); vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture (such as high-tech urban farming, hydroponics, and indoor growing solutions); agricultural and bioresources engineering (with areas around designing and advanced servicing, as well as automated farming machinery).
On the other hand, young people in Africa looking to enter the agriculture space must understand that the sector is shifting from traditional subsistence farming to a modern, technology-driven, and profitable industry, with agribusiness projected to grow rapidly. The BRI advice on the current industry trends revolve around. Moving away from the idea of just farming and look at agriculture as a business venture. Focus on profitability, value addition (processing, packaging), thereby filling the market gaps.
Starting with a small, manageable plot or a backyard garden to learn, test, and build expertise, then grow from there. You do not need large land or huge capital to begin. Farming requires long-term commitment and patience. Success is a process of learning, failing, and rebuilding.
Vital practical result-oriented steps for intending farmers, from the Brain Re-engineering Initiative is to firstly do some need assessment i.e. look around your community and identify what is missing. Is there a shortage of fresh vegetables, poultry, or processed food? Fulfilling a local need is the fastest way to start. Secondly, do some further research to know who you are going to sell to before you plant. Thirdly, get some practical knowledge by finding mentors, visit successful farmers, read books, and take courses in agriculture or agribusiness to gain knowledge.
As much as possible, I wish to advise them to embrace some fragment or element of technology in agriculture such as usage of digital tools by leveraging on apps and tools for weather updates, market prices, and farm management to improve efficiency. Other options include exploring some hydroponics, vertical farming, or drone technology for crop monitoring to reduce labour intensity and improve yields, as well as employing social media skills to do logistics i.e. market your agricultural products directly to consumers using platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram to build a customer base.
Other opportunities exist beyond just planting. What about adding value to your raw products (e.g., turning raw cashews into processed snacks) to increase your profit margins. A whole lot of opportunities still exist such as to explore on agri-processing activities, packaging, distributing, transport, or providing input services (like seeds, seedlings, fertilizer).
Some other collective action and partnership opportunities to network or connect to fellow young farmers or even form some cooperatives to share resources, knowledge, and collective marketing power. This option is gaining ground in the USA, and I witnessed this during my visit to Tuskegee University in 2018. The challenge with this is insincerity and trust issues has limited this practice in Africa. Truly, agricultural cooperatives provide a wide range of economic, social, and environmental benefits by allowing individual farmers to pool their resources and act as a single, powerful entity.
May I conclude by underscoring that there are a high-demand and quick turnover on honey-making venture (apiculture). Also, vegetable farming both leafy and fruit vegetables such as fluted pumpkin leaf (ugu), lady’s fingers (okra), spinach, tomatoes, cabbage and peppers. Investible opportunities abound in poultry, and mushroom farming, which can be practiced indoors, and it requires some low initial cost for starting small, high demand for meat and eggs. Beekeeping: Affordable and offers high-value products like honey.
