Agricultural value chain incubation programmes and youth employment: a case of the Sokoine university graduates entrepreneurs cooperative, Morogoro, Tanzania
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Date
2021
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Publisher
TAJAS
Abstract
Youth unemployment is on the rise globally Tanzania inclusive. Nonetheless, for Tanzania, the
agricultural sector has a potential for employment creation at the various nodes of the agricultural
value chain. Therefore, the study generally examines the contribution of the Sokoine University
Graduates Entrepreneurs Cooperative (SUGECO) in enabling its graduate’s self-employ while
creating employment for others. Specifically, the study examines the contribution of the above-
mentioned programme to youth’s employment; identifies challenges facing the programme, and
examines the policy gaps. The study is based on the cross-sectional research design whereby
data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 88 respondents. In addition, data were
collected from five key informants. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPPS and qualitative
data through content analysis. Generally, study findings show that SUGECO has the potential to
support young entrepreneurs’ development and job creation in Tanzania. Findings also show that
SUGECO offers a variety of trainings which equip its graduates with business management and
employment skills. In addition, marital status and being trained in agribusiness were significantly
(P≤0.05) associated with the graduates’ employment creation. However, the findings show that
SUGECO and its graduates face a number of challenges including lack of funding, lack of
commitment among the graduates, and unsupportive government policies. Therefore, SUGECO
needs to adhere to its pre-defined criteria when selecting candidates for incubation programme
so as to only recruit the committed ones. In addition, the Government and non-governmental
organizations should collaborate and put some efforts to promote the SUGECO agribusiness
incubation programme as it has the potential for employment creation and poverty reduction
among the youth.
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Keywords
Incubation programme, SUGECO, Youth, Employment creation