Youth in agriculture: the social dynamics shaping young people’s aspirations and livelihoods in Ethiopia

Youth aspirations and livelihoods in agriculture are complex, shaped by numerous factors that affect their engagement in the sector. Using a social capital and aspiration theory framework, this study explores the social dynamics, including intergenerational relationships and gender, influencing youth livelihoods in agriculture. The study employed a sample survey of 232 randomly selected young farmers, along with 12 purposively selected focus group discussions, 12 in-depth interviews, and 16 key informant interviews, all conducted in the Burie Zuria district, Northwest Ethiopia. The study reveals that local community attitudes and sociocultural factors influence youth access to agricultural resources and their decision-making in agricultural livelihoods. Compared with men and non-graduates, women and graduate youth face greater challenges in accessing agricultural resources and making decisions. Social capital has served as a mediator to sustain their livelihoods in agriculture amid the challenges. Gender- and youth-inclusive development policies should account for the context-specific social dynamics in agriculture.