Kayes: technical training to boost employment for rural youth

In the circles of Bafulabe, Kita and Kénieba, several young people have benefited from practical training in sheep and cattle, fish farming, poultry farming, market gardening and cereal processing. The aim of the FIER II project through these training courses is to strengthen the skills of young people for their economic integration through profitable activity and to support the local economy.

These courses were organised by the FIER II project in partnership with local technical services, including the Regional Directorate of Agriculture and the Regional Directorate of Animal Production and Industry. They cover a wide range of sectors: sheep and cattle to improve the quality and profitability of livestock production, Fish farming to diversify the sources of protein and income,poultry to meet the growing demand for poultry, the market gardening to enhance food security, production and marketing of cereals to improve the value of crops and the sale of products.

The aim of the project is for young people to become autonomous economic actors capable of creating their own jobs and contributing to the stability of the region. It is also to strengthen the technical and entrepreneurial capacities of beneficiaries in order to improve the productivity, processing and marketing of agricultural and livestock products in the Kayes region.

The modules combine theory and practice: livestock management, breeding techniques, animal feeding, irrigation, disease control, post-harvest conservation and marketing strategies. Participants also received training in financial management and rural entrepreneurship from the Youth Employment Promotion Agency.

In the long run, the FIER II project is convinced that these young people will become know-how relays in their communities, helping to reduce unemployment and strengthen economic resilience in the face of climate and security challenges and reducing rural exodus in Kayes.