YPARD is glad to welcome its new YPARD South Africa representative: Shakespear Mudombi. Shakespear is a doctoral student based at the Institute for Economic Research on Innovation (Faculty of Economics & Finance) of Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, South Africa. His research interests include: ICTs,  agricultural technology adoption, science, technology and innovation (STI) systems, climate change information and knowledge transfer.... More

I was asked to give a presentation to the Open Ceremony of the conference ‘Youth Perspectives: Environmental Issues in Contemporary Societies’, which took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from April 27-29 2012.  The conference was organized by Geneva International Model United Nations, GIMUN, a fully student run (with great professionalism and high enthusiasm!) NGO with consultative status at the UN Economic and... More

On the occasion of the 3rd IAALD Africa Chapter conference, the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA) organised a series of activities in the framework of the ARDYIS project. These included the prize giving ceremony of the YoBloCo Awards and a consultative workshop under the theme "Using ICTs to strengthen youth opportunities in agriculture and rural areas".  Winners and some best participants... More

The Climate Change and Food Security—Role of Young Professionals in ARD—YPARD China Promoting Conference will be held in Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(CAAS) on 5th June, 2012. Here is the Annoncement:   I. Background In recently years, the increase of global extreme weather events and fluctuations in international food prices makes the stability of food availability and accessibility the focus of... More

I had a vision to start a company when I graduated from the Njala University in 2009, in Sierra Leone. I shared this vision with three of my friends, they were positive about it and encouraged that I extend the invitation to the whole class of seven Agricultural Engineering students. The problems was unemployment especially for agriculture graduates, it was a... More

On the 15th of May 2012, I and a friend decided to see and observe the activities of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Ondo State Chapter. We went out of keen interest to associate with other farmers and see how the association can come up to sensitize the youth more about agriculture. Maybe before I share what I experienced,... More

YPARD - Young Professionals’ Platform in Agricultural Research for Development - wishes to contribute to the debate on change in formal higher agricultural education with integrating the views of young professionals. Indeed, the views of young professionals have not previously been included in discussions on curricula development. Therefore an YPARD study has been initiated in 2011. The report is now available... More

Today, I watched as students in their fourth year in my university (Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria) picked up their log book for the six month SIWES program. This is generated some thoughts in my head as it relates to the development and sustainability of agriculture among young people especially those studying courses related to agriculture. The Student Industrial Working... More

YPARD welcomes Martina Graf as the YPARD Europe coordinator for the recently established YPARD Europe Chapter. Martina will lead the development of the European network, creating a working group with the young professionals who have demonstrated their interest in working to shape the YPARD plan of action for Europe.  Martina is based in Switzerland, holds a Bachelor of Science in International... More

 Disclaimer: *Account is of the YPARD Zimbabwe representative and not of the AVRDC  AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, Taiwan held an Open Day at its headquarters recently on May 18, 2012. Participants from the island of Taiwan braced the rainy weather to witness, share, and give feed back on the center’s work. AVRDC theme for the day was “Collaboration: The... More

After holding its first awareness meeting on April 30, 2012 at Njala University Faculty Building, bringing together 44 students from various departments of the University, YPARD-Sierra Leone held its second awareness meeting Wednesday, May16, 2012 at Sierra Leone’s National Agricultural training center. The meeting brought together 58 participants from various departments of the Institution. There was a full presentation on YPARD... More

Africa is a home to big and potential agicultural lands that would be enough to feed all the hungry in the continent. But a huge challenge in adoption to technologies has hindered this giant to discover the potential it has to feed its people. It amazing how small and young countries like Israel has made it possible to feed its people... More

  In the context of the upcoming United Nation's Conference on Sustainable Development (also known as Rio+20), people over the world are sharing their thoughts and opinions on how they see their future, so that their voice is heard at the conference from 20-22 June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This is being done through various methods: essay contests, blogs,... More

Most of you know YPARD as an international platform through which  young professionals are able to express their ideas and realise their full potential towards a dynamic ARD. You might not know about all of the other activities that are going on worldwide, at local, national, regional and global levels. You can now find the YPARD 2011 activity report in the... More

YPARD is welcoming three interns to support information services through ypard.net, increase YPARD visibility and community interaction on Social Networks, and strengthen the reach of YPARD in three languages: English, Spanish and French. YPARD is eager to get more young people from all over the world involved in youth and agricultural development, and this will enable us to provide enhanced support... More

YPARD is welcoming three new country representatives in Africa: in Malawi, Mali and Sierra Leone. Get to know more about them and liaise with them to get involved in national and local initiatives with YPARD! Maxwell Mkondiwa, in Malawi Maxwell Mkondiwa is the YPARD Malawi representative. He is a 22 years old research fellow (intern) at the Centre for Agricultural Research... More

Maxwell Mkondiwa Farmer experimentation and field school using System of Rice Intensification: Youths involved in taking a video to showcase in another area (Cho Moi District, Bac Kan Province, Vietnam). A community or village is normally treated as a unified unit consisting of various individuals who share various common resources and institutions. Practitioners have indeed implemented development projects in this so... More

AT AKURE, NIGERIA. THE ENTERPRENEUR UNDER 25 (EU-25) FORUM THEME: AGRIC-BUSINESS On April 29 2012, fifteen (15) young men and women came together to discuss on the future of agriculture and agric-business in Nigeria. The EU-25 is a monthly entrepreneur forum which is done over lunch where entrepreneurs under the age of 25 come together to discuss on how effectively create... More

Pouvez-vous nous présenter l'organisation Ypard? YPARD est un réseau de jeunes professionnels de moins de 40 ans qui travaillent dans la recherche agricole pour le développement dans différentes régions du monde. Nous cherchons à engager davantage les jeunes actifs vers des carrières touchant tous les aspects du secteur agricole.  Et il est important que les jeunes eux-mêmes soient sollicités pour qu’ils... More

Youth and Agriculture: Fresh Approach for a New Paradigm The CGIAR Science Forum 2011 held from 17th-19th October  2011 in Beijing, China under the theme “The Agriculture-Environment Nexus “ was organized by the Independent Science and Partnership Council (ISPC) of the CGIAR in cooperation  with  the Consortium  Board  of  the  CGIAR,  the  Global  Forum  on Agricultural  Research  (GFAR)  and the Chinese... More