Structural change resulting in young people leaving agriculture in large numbers is not wrong in principle but it should not be based on one-sided support of non-sustainable structures, as it was for a long time, especially in the poorest countries. Greater support for the agricultural sector is therefore needed to allow balanced and sustainable economic growth in rural areas, thus reducing the exodus of young people. It is of vital importance to attract better-educated young adults back to farming, which cannot thrive without them. The article outlines three elements of efforts to attract young people to the agricultural sector: conducive framework conditions, active support measures, and measures of particular relevance to young people.

Dr Michael Brüntrup
German Development Institute/Deutsches
Institut für Entwicklungspolitik
Bonn, Germany
Michael.Bruentrup@die-gdi.de