Youth, ICTs and agriculture - exploring how digital tools and skills influence the motivation of young farmers

This paper is informed by the findings from the recent exploratory, qualitative research focused on three projects located in western Kenya. It aimed to explore how digital tools and skills influence the motivation of young farmers and support attracting and retaining youth to agriculture. Paper showcases in details varied dynamics of ICT uptake by youths, identifying youth´s ICT-enabled journey into profitable farming and its various social and economic consequences. It provides a number of recommendations that can further encourage young famers´ uptake and use of ICTs to support their agricultural activities. It showcases that youths benefit from the impact of ICT, as ICT has been found to catalyse and accelerate organisational development and value chain work, especially in relation to involvement, motivation and commitment of youth to improved management and development of their farms.