Your current location:HOME >health >Empower youths to bridge rural digital divide 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 17:38:17 Source: Internet compilationEdit:health
JIN DING/CHINA DAILYSafeguarding the livelihood of China's smallholder farmers, who account for 90 p
JIN DING/CHINA DAILY
Safeguarding the livelihood of China's smallholder farmers, who account for 90 percent of the agricultural workforce, remains paramount for ensuring China's food security in the future. In recent years, online retail sales in rural China have surged from 180 billion yuan ($25.26 billion) in 2014 to 2.17 trillion yuan in 2022, a faster growth than the national average, aiding in poverty alleviation. Despite this, the disparity in agricultural development persists.
Despite a narrowing digital divide between the rural and urban youth, the benefits of technological advancements have not sufficiently permeated the agrifood system to profit smallholder farmers. Due to less opportunity for economic development in rural areas, more than 60 percent of rural youths aged 15-30 have left their homes to seek employment and better income in urban areas. This has left rural areas with an aging and vulnerable population that engages in limited economic activity, a situation that further exacerbates the urban-rural inequality.
However, the situation is not all that gloomy. I have also observed how a significant number of young and digitally adept farmers and operators along the value chains are reshaping traditional agriculture in China by leveraging innovative technologies. According to the white paper, Youth of China in the New Era (2022), by 2021 about 470,000 young people were involved in implementing China's Rural Revitalization Strategy at the grassroots level, including the agricultural sector. Platforms like Pinduoduo have helped these youth farmers to connect with diverse markets and engage with a broader consumer base.
I am optimistic that these ambitious youths can bridge the gap in agricultural development by playing a pivotal role in digitally transforming small agrifood systems. To enable us to harness their full potential, we must equip rural youths who are often constrained by access to land, resources, finance, technology and information among other things.
Toward this goal, the International Fund for Agricultural Development places young people at the forefront of its development actions globally and will continue to ensure their access to resources and services and increase their representation in decision-making roles through its joint programs undertaken in line with governments. For example, in China, the Sustaining Poverty Reduction through Agribusiness Development in South Shaanxi project has provided funds and resources for rural youths to start up e-commerce businesses. Many of the rural youths returned to their hometown after years of working in urban areas as they found untapped potential in their hometown's agricultural development. These opportunities ranged from utilizing digital farming techniques to selling agricultural products on e-commerce platforms.
Digital empowerment of youths must happen along with a concerted effort to promote digital literacy among young women and those with disabilities, groups that are disproportionately disadvantaged compared to their urban counterparts. We must recognize their individual agencies and enhance their skills with digital technologies. For instance, the IFAD is collaborating with UN women in the Hunan Rural Revitalization Demonstration Project, to provide entrepreneurship and e-commerce classes for young rural mothers. Similarly, in Shaanxi province, IFAD invested in local kiwi growers who have disabilities and enhanced their multimedia production and e-commerce skills.
It is a shared view that the modernization of agriculture to benefit the over 1.4 billion population is a key part of the overall Chinese modernization process. Agricultural modernization will, however, foster innovation and drive technological advancement. It will also open new arenas for rural development and job creation, diversifying income sources and enhancing the shared prosperity agenda. This is where the youth thrive, and IFAD's projects have demonstrated that. I therefore urge all stakeholders in China to invest in rural youths, empowering them to modernize local agriculture and reduce urban-rural disparities. Leveraging the potential of youth and digital technologies will push us closer toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of eradicating hunger and poverty by 2030.
The author is IFAD's China country director and representative of IFAD Multi Country Office. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
Brazil replaces injured goalkeeper Ederson in Copa America squad2024-05-21 17:38
Royals' Alec Marsh hit on throwing arm by line drive, leaves in 5th against Blue Jays2024-05-21 17:34
Trump will be in NY for the hush money trial while the Supreme Court hears his immunity case in DC2024-05-21 17:34
DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Labour runs out of ammo on defence2024-05-21 17:34
Georgia Republicans choose Amy Kremer, organizer of pro2024-05-21 17:07
Utah hockey fans welcome the former Arizona Coyotes to their new home2024-05-21 16:46
Officials say up to 160 pilot whales beached on western Australian coast and at least 26 have died2024-05-21 16:19
Lithuanian soprano Asmik Grigorian makes belated Metropolitan Opera debut as Madame Butterfly2024-05-21 16:10
Why US Catholics are planning pilgrimages in communities across the nation2024-05-21 15:23
Climate change is bringing malaria to new areas. In Africa, it never left2024-05-21 15:17
Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection after closing some restaurants2024-05-21 17:22
World Central Kitchen workers killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza will be honored at memorial2024-05-21 16:53
Suri Cruise steps out in stylish sweater and flowing skirt in NYC2024-05-21 16:49
DPRK top leader guides simulated nuclear counterattack drill2024-05-21 16:39
The unstoppable duo of Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos2024-05-21 16:34
Zendaya dazzles on Variety cover with her Challengers co2024-05-21 16:29
Burkina Faso's army massacred over 200 civilians in a village raid, Human Rights Watch says2024-05-21 16:23
Colleges nationwide turn to police to quell pro2024-05-21 16:01
Yvette Fielding says her Most Haunted co2024-05-21 15:42
How do private enterprises tackle challenges with innovation?2024-05-21 15:23