Demographic dividend: a window of opportunity to propel the youth for food security in Kenya

Alex Nasiyo, University of Nairobi
Wanjiru Gichuhi, University of Nairobi

The demographic dividend is the accelerated economic growth that may result from a rapid decline in a country’s fertility and the subsequent change in the population age structure. With fewer births each year, a country’s working-age population grows larger in relation to the young dependent population. This paper will examine the linkage between demographic dividend and increasing food security, with the youth actively involved in agriculture industry. Kenya is starting to enter its window, under the assumption of declining fertility rates over the next several decades. The country has the opportunity to exploit the first demographic dividend by attracting and retaining youth in farming. However, Kenya is deriving very little demographic dividend in agriculture with an increasing proportion of the country’s working age population being inactive. The key question is whether Kenya can experience increasing food security by actively involving the youth in farming activities during this window of opportunity.