Nurturing the Next Generation of Youth in Agripreneurship Leadership Through School-Based Agricultural Education Programs in Uganda
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.v67i4.3400Keywords:
Agricultural education, Agricultural excursions, Extension education, Income innovations, Leadership camps, School gardens, School-based agricultural education, Youth agriprenuership, Youth institutesAbstract
The global agrifood system faces challenges from population growth, climate change, resource constraints, and evolving value chains, requiring new generations of agribusiness leaders. This descriptive study uses an experiential learning framework to explore how Youth Entrepreneurship Programs (YEP) foster youth agripreneurship leadership development. It examines School-Based Agricultural Education initiatives in eastern Uganda through the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and Iowa State University-Uganda Program. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among high school students (n=58) participating in YEP across two partner schools in Kamuli District. Structured surveys collected quantitative descriptive data and open-ended qualitative responses, which were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis, respectively. YEP initiatives employ four interconnected approaches: school gardens (100% participation) serving as experiential laboratories for business incubation and management; agricultural excursions/trade shows (83%) that enhance youth participation through exposure to emerging agritech innovations; income-generating innovations (59%) that expand skills in crop, livestock, and craft production, supporting financial literacy; and youth camps/institutes (36%) that strengthen research, leadership, and civic engagement. Findings suggest that targeted agripreneurship interventions can foster the perceived development of responsibility, business acumen, climate-smart practices, and entrepreneurial mindsets. Within this study context, the YEP model functions as an experiential bridge linking theory to practice, demonstrating potential for promoting enterprise development and community knowledge transfer. The study recommends exploring the institutionalization of agripreneurship within school curricula, strengthening local ecosystem partnerships, and establishing school-to-startup pipelines to support youth entrepreneurship. School-based agripreneurship offers a potential pathway for contributing to youth employment, food security, and local agrifood system transformation.
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