Yearning to farm – youth, agricultural intensification and land in Mkushi, Zambia

Abstract

Youth headed households in Mkushi, Zambia have been compared with other households - there are no differences in yields based on age. Technology use and skills position young households well in agriculture. Independent access to land is necessary to participate in agriculture. Independent access to land among youth is unusual, however, delaying adulthood and independence. Parents who deny their children land benefit from selling or renting land to others, distrust their children or want to control them. Highlights of this research Technology use and skills position young households well in agriculture. Independent access to land is necessary to participate in agriculture. Independent access to land among youth is unusual, however, delaying adulthood and independence. Parents who deny their children land benefit from selling or renting land to others , distrust their children or want to control them. This research is an output of the Sustainable Agricultural Intensification Research and Learning in Africa (SAIRLA) programme