Brief

Intersecting factors in designing youth interventions in the pig value chain in Mukono and Masaka, Uganda

author(s) Namatovu, Jane - Njuguna-Mungai, Esther - Farnworth, Cathy - Ahumuza, Ronnie - Wairagala, Pamela - Achandi, Esther Leah - Lukuyu, Ben A. - Ouma, Emily A. - Galiè, Alessandra
from CGIAR - Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers
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themes
regions
  • Eastern Africa
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Africa
  • World
  • Northern Europe
  • Europe
citation

Namatovu, J., Njuguna, M. E., Farnworth, C., Ahumuza, R., Wairagala, P., Achandi, E.L., Lukuyu, B., Ouma E and Galiè, A. 2024. Intersecting factors in designing youth interventions in the pig value chain in Mukono and Masaka, Uganda. Nairobi, Kenya. International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
Intersecting factors in designing youth interventions in the pig value chain in Mukono and Masaka, Uganda

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Abstract

Youth unemployment in Africa is a big challenge (Sumberg, et al., 2021; Asciutti et al., 2016), and as a result, a number of programs have been initiated to create job opportunities for the youth (Filmer and Fox, 2014). A renewed emphasis has been placed on the potential of the agricultural sector as a source of youth employment (MAAIF, 2017). Through these efforts, progress has been made in understanding youth engagement in agriculture and promoting farming as a business through market linkages, inputs (seeds, chemicals), training/capacity building, providing start-up capital and working through groups (Rietveld, et al., 2020; Turolla et al., 2017). Relatively limited efforts, however, have been undertaken on youth employment in the livestock sector (Nchanji et al., 2023).

In Uganda, more than 79% of rural youth work in agriculture on family farms, with young women more likely to be underemployed than young men (UN Women, 2021). thereby widening the gender gap. With about 70% of agriculture households engaged in livestock rearing as a form of employment and given that the most common pig production system in Uganda is smallholder farming (Lukuyu et al., 2021), the sector presents huge potential for engaging youth (UN Women, 2021). Piggery has been recognized as an enterprise with great potential, especially for women who may not traditionally be allowed to own larger livestock such as cattle (Patel & Goyena, 2019) but can raise small livestock species, for example, pigs, in the backyard (Tatwangire, 2014).

The potential for youth employment through livestock and, more specifically, in the pig value chain is a topic of significant importance. This youth research brief highlights some of the findings from a qualitative study undertaken to investigate youth roles and aspirations in the pig value chain to identify entry points for youth engagement. The brief is part of research undertaken by the gender equity and social inclusion team of the CGIAR Initiative on Sustainable Animal Productivity for Livelihoods, Nutrition and Gender Inclusion (SAPLING) in Uganda. SAPLING is funded by one CGIAR and led by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).

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