By: Waithera Ng’ang’a . Director-Strategic Partnerships & Corporate Communications | African Food Fellowship-Board Member | Strategic Board Advisor | Industry CEO. Picked from Her LinkedIn page.
There’s a phrase that often gets thrown around in discussions about attracting young people to agriculture: “We need to make agriculture sexy.” But every time I hear it, I cringe. Why is this language used for agriculture and not for industries like law, engineering, or finance? Simple—those fields are profitable. No one has to make them “sexy” because people are drawn to their financial promise.
The problem with agriculture isn’t that it lacks appeal. It’s that the business environment, policies, and infrastructure surrounding the industry have made it less profitable and more difficult to navigate. In countries where agriculture is the backbone of the economy, the sector is supported by a robust policy environment, effective financing mechanisms, well-established logistical networks, and marketing efforts that position agriculture as a serious business, not a field in need of a makeover.
If we want to see agriculture flourish and attract future generations, we need to start asking the right questions. How do we make agriculture profitable? How do we ensure that our infrastructure and financial systems actually support the farmers who are the backbone of the industry? The work I do—teaching farmers how to farm for profit and showing them that agriculture is a business, not a hobby—answers these questions by focusing on sustainability and value. We pay farmers higher prices for their products, like milk, to ensure they can maintain quality and remain in business. It’s about creating an environment where farming is not just sustainable but rewarding.
As I look to the future, this becomes personal for me. How do we ensure that when our children choose to pursue agriculture, it’s met with pride, not confusion? Let’s fix the system by addressing the real issues—profitability, infrastructure, and financing. Agriculture is a business, and it’s time we treat it that way.
