With more than half Zambia’s population under the age of 25, young people are choosing a different path than their parents. They are organising learning groups and experimenting with agroecological practices, creating laboratories of innovation. The dynamism generated by this work has pushed youth groups beyond farming techniques into education campaigns, digital platforms and festivals to engage the wider community. Through agroecology, young people are cultivating climate resilience and food sovereignty while reshaping identities, aspirations and livelihoods.
Why we began
I remember standing in a field in the Chongwe district of Lusaka Province, looking at a patch of land that had been depleted by years of synthetic fertilisers and monocropping. The soil was a mix of parched earth and expectant hope: pale, almost grey, cracked like a mirror dropped on stone, and carrying with it that particular scent just before the rains. Beside me stood a collection of young, vibrant individuals from Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe who refused to believe that this exhausted earth was our only inheritance. They were part of the Seed and Knowledge Initiative (SKI) regional youth working group that met during a Training for Transformation leadership meeting in early 2025 in Zambia.
If we didn't become the architects of our own food systems, we would remain mere spectators to our own hunger
We were there because we had to be. With unemployment rising and the climate becoming an unpredictable neighbour, we realised that if we didn’t become the architects of our own food systems we would remain mere spectators to our own hunger. This is the story of how we moved from observing degradation to cultivating seeds of strength and sovereignty.
Zambia, like much of Africa, is experiencing a demographic shift. With more than half of its population under 25, the country stands at a crossroads. Youth unemployment is high, the adverse effects of climate change like droughts, floods, pests and diseases are intensifying, and food systems are under strain. Yet within these challenges also lies opportunity. Agroecology, with its emphasis on ecological balance, cultural identity and social justice, offers us a vision of farming that is not just about survival, but about thriving.
The context of our initiative
For years, there had been conversations among young activists, farmers and students in Zambia who felt excluded from mainstream agricultural policies. We saw how conventional farming, heavily reliant on chemical inputs and monocultures, was degrading soils, eroding biodiversity, and locking farmers into cycles of debt.
We asked ourselves: What kind of food system do we want to inherit?
Our answer was clear. We wanted a food system that regenerates ecosystems rather than depletes them; that strengthens local economies rather than drains them; and that celebrates our cultural identity rather than erases it. That vision led us to agroecology.
Learning circles as laboratories
Our initiative began modestly in 2023. We organised learning circles, small gatherings where young people could share knowledge, experiment with agroecological practices, and reflect on their experiences. These circles became laboratories of innovation. We experimented with various practices:
- Composting and biopesticides: reducing reliance on costly chemical inputs.
- Diverse cropping systems such as maize intercropped with beans, pumpkins and indigenous vegetables: reviving traditional practices that had been sidelined.
- Demonstration plots to test agroforestry: planting fruit trees alongside staple crops to improve soil health and provide additional income.
When I saw how composting reduced costs and improved yields, I realised farming could be smart and sustainable
We also embraced storytelling. Through festivals and digital platforms, we launched the ‘My Food is Zambian’ campaign, as part of the ‘My Food is African’ campaign carried out by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA). This movement celebrated indigenous crops like sorghum, millet and cowpeas, while reconnecting youth with ancestral wisdom.
The results of our efforts have been tangible. Young people are beginning to see agriculture differently. Some have started small enterprises in seed saving, organic input production and value addition. Others have become advocates, speaking at schools and community events. One young farmer proudly declared: “Agroecology gave me dignity. I am not just a labourer; I am an innovator.” This has made local traditional leaders happy and provided spaces for youths to exhibit their talent.
Successes, challenges and lessons
The journey toward sustainable food systems has been defined by both breakthrough successes and sobering realisations. One of the most effective strategies was the establishment of peer-to-learning circles, which functioned as safe spaces for experimentation. By allowing youth to share their failures and triumphs openly, these circles transformed agroecology from a technical concept into an empowering personal practice. This sense of ownership was further strengthened by the ‘My Food is Zambian’ campaign. By anchoring agroecological practices in cultural identity, young people found a renewed sense of pride and belonging in their heritage, proving that when agriculture is linked to identity, it resonates far more deeply.
However, these successes were often met with significant systemic barriers. Despite a growing enthusiasm for the movement, many young practitioners struggled with insecure land tenure, which frequently prevented agroecology from moving beyond a theoretical idea into a lived reality. Financial hurdles presented a similar exhaustion point; youth-led enterprises often stalled because traditional banking institutions continue to view young farmers as high-risk investments, limiting access to affordable credit.
Furthermore, the persistent societal perception of agriculture as ‘dirty work’ rather than a frontier for innovation remains a difficult mindset to shift. These challenges served as vital teachers, illustrating that agroecological success requires more than just farming techniques – it demands a total transformation of policy, finance, education and cultural narratives.
The lessons gathered along this path highlight that agroecology succeeds because it speaks directly to the modern realities of unemployment and environmental degradation. It offers practical solutions to lived experiences, especially when fuelled by storytelling. When young farmers shared how seed saving allowed them to be creative and reclaim their own stories, it inspired their peers to take action in ways a manual never could.
Ultimately, the experience proved that while youth enthusiasm is a powerful engine, it cannot sustain itself in a vacuum. Advocacy must go hand-in-hand with practice, and progress must be a collective effort. Our partnerships with schools, NGOs and traditional leaders made it clear that agroecology thrives best when it is treated as a shared, communal mission rather than an individual pursuit.
“Saving seeds is like saving culture. Each seed carries the story of our ancestors. When I plant millet, I feel connected to my grandmother who taught me its value.” – Lucy Musonda, Copperbelt Province
Plans for the future
Looking ahead, the vision for the next decade is centered on a transformative shift where young people across Southern Africa are no longer viewed merely as labourers but as the primary innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders of the agroecological movement. This future relies on a multifaceted approach that bridges the gap between sustainable production and economic viability. Furthermore, leveraging ICT and digital tools connects young farmers directly to emerging markets, ensuring that the cultivation of diverse, healthy produce translates into thriving livelihoods.
To sustain this momentum, the movement places a heavy emphasis on the power of narrative and professional development. Creative festivals and digital platforms will be used to showcase successful youth-led initiatives, providing the inspiration necessary to spark wider participation. This storytelling will be bolstered by robust training programmes designed to equip the next generation with the technical agroecological skills and the leadership capacity required to drive systemic change. By expanding local learning circles into regional hubs, these efforts will create a permanent infrastructure for exchange, allowing youth to connect across borders, share solutions and collectively navigate the challenges of building a resilient food system.
Relevance for policy and society
To transform the landscape of food systems, a multi-stakeholder approach is essential, beginning with a call for governments to enact youth-friendly policies that go beyond rhetoric. This includes securing land tenure, providing accessible and affordable finance, and formally integrating agroecology into national curricula to provide a structural foundation for future generations. Educators also play a pivotal role by embedding these principles into school programmes early on, ensuring that students view sustainable farming as a viable and sophisticated career path from the start of their academic journeys.
Existing youth networks should be fortified to serve as powerful platforms for collective action
The support of civil society is equally vital, particularly through sustained investment in capacity building. By providing mentorship, tailored technical training, and hands-on learning opportunities, these organisations can bridge the gap between passion and professional expertise. Simultaneously, existing youth networks should be fortified to serve as powerful platforms for collective action, amplifying the voices of young farmers and ensuring they have a seat at the table where decisions are made.
The future of Zambia’s food systems and indeed the region and the globe depends on nurturing the next generation of agroecological champions. By reshaping narratives, fostering enabling environments, investing in their capabilities, and amplifying their voices, we can empower young people to embrace agroecology and lead the transition towards food-secure, climate resilient and thriving communities across the continent.
Our story is not just about Zambia. Across Africa, young people are grappling with similar challenges: climate change, unemployment and food insecurity. Agroecology offers a pathway that is both locally grounded and globally relevant. Our experiences illustrate the transformative power of agroecology – not just in terms of farming techniques, but in reshaping identities, aspirations and livelihoods.
As one young farmer in our group put it: “Agroecology is not just about growing food, it’s about growing futures.”
Authors: Omali Phiri (35) is a programmes officer at The Zambia Alliance for Agroecology and Biodiversity. He is a member of the Seed and Knowledge Initiative (SKI) and Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) Youth Working Group. Contact: phirioma@gmail.com
Seed and Knowledge Initiative (SKI) is a regional network with partners from Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The SKI youth group is part of the SKI Community of Practice comprising youths from Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi.
This article is part of Issue 4-2026: Youth leading the way in agroecology.
