In Sierra Leone, young people account for a large percentage of the rural population, and majority are often unemployed or underemployed, despite the need for agricultural labour. Young people are often used as a critical resource to mitigate climate change in supporting other factors in poverty eradication.

In addressing this gap, the Agriculture Value Chain Development (AVDP) has built the capacity of over 150 youths on Climate Change Mitigation strategies that will ensure the project successfully implements its climate resilient approach in production and productivity.

As the project Climate Smart Specialist, Mr Gassium Bhonopha puts it, the training will increase the sensitivity of youth farmers in mitigating climate related risks while providing a platform to understand and benefit from climate change institutional services, especially the meteorological/EPA advisory services.

The training was conducted in collaboration with the Njala University to help the farmers deal with emerging issues that hampers agricultural productivity. The Lead Facilitator, Dr Mornya noted that “Climate change is real and is affecting plants, the environment and humans. Therefore, farmers are encouraged to adopt the mitigation strategies to save our ecosystem”.

The farmers admitted that due to their lack of understanding, much of their farming activities were affected by deforestation, slashing and burning of productive agricultural environments which were some of the contributing factors of climate change. After learning that poor yield may be as a result of climate change effects, Fatmata Pewa, a youth observed that “I am now an ambassador for change in raising awareness to colleague farmers on appropriate farming practices that will prevent the destruction of our ecosystem”.