Unlocking Potential: What Holds Back Youth is not Poverty, But Mindset

In South Sudan, agriculture remains the backbone of the economy – yet youth participation, especially in vegetable production, remains surprisingly low. Many young people perceive farming as low-paying, unattractive, and outdated. This negative mindset is reinforced by high illiteracy rates, limited capacity-building opportunities, and minimal support from government or development partners.

My friends and I, all young agronomists who graduated from Dr John Garang Memorial University, are trying to rewrite that narrative – proving that agriculture can be an exciting, innovative, and dignified career path for youth.

From salad to strategy

It all started during our final semester in 2022, when we were enjoying a delicious vegetable salad at the university cafeteria. As we ate, a question arose: What if we produced these ingredients ourselves, right here in Bor? That simple moment became the seed for a bold idea.

We decided to found the Youth Multipurpose Agriculture Cooperative (YMAC) in Bor County, Jonglei State – a youth-led initiative focused on year-round, market-oriented vegetable production.

At the start, our mindset was traditional: we thought of farming mainly in terms of solving food supply gaps. We knew there would be challenges – from securing land and fencing materials to ensuring safety and convincing sceptics of our vision. But we were driven by passion, a desire to be different, and a sense of purpose to shift perceptions.

A shift in thinking – and a shift in impact

As we began to farm, our perspective evolved. We started seeing agriculture not just as production, but as an entry point to something larger – a system of networks, value chains, and livelihood opportunities. We moved from simply “growing food” to understanding markets, consumer preferences, and how to connect the supply side with demand through smart business decisions.

YMAC now has 15 active members. Over the past two years, we’ve partnered with the FAO through its Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods project. Together, we’ve delivered training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and vegetable production techniques – all conducted practically on our farm.

Our cooperative has also become a learning hub. We host hands-on sessions for primary and secondary school students, showing them what modern agriculture looks like in action. And our produce now supplies local hotels and restaurants, reducing their dependence on imports from Uganda and cutting transport costs.

While profits remain modest due to broader economic conditions, our social impact has been remarkable. More importantly, we’ve become a reference point – a source of inspiration for other youth and students in our community.

Youth engagement is the real leverage point

From what I’ve experienced, youth don’t just need speeches or encouragement – they need real engagement. They need to do, fail, learn, and see tangible benefits. This is what shifts mindset.

The recent food systems e-course I completed deepened my understanding of how agriculture fits into broader food systems. It confirmed for me that unlocking youth potential starts with giving us real spaces to lead change. And once youth see themselves as capable and valued, the transformation follows.

Ultimately, what holds youth back is not poverty or lack of land – it is a mindset constrained by limited exposure, low confidence, and few opportunities. But if we can spark curiosity, build skills, and show real results, we can unlock their full potential.