Sierra Leone Youth Revive Land Through Farming and Bees

Girls plant seeds in Lushoto, Tanzania.

Craters filled with muddy water dot the Kono district in Sierra Leone — remnants of diamond mining that once fueled intense local conflict over resources.

But now, parts of the land are being restored. Crops are flourishing, and bees are buzzing once again.

The people leading this transformation are a diverse group — former taxi drivers, ex-miners, school dropouts, and university graduates. What unites them? Most are young.

“There is life beyond mining [but] we all grew up thinking diamond was the only solution,” said Sahr Fallah, chairman of the Youth Council in Kono.

Globally, over 44 percent of the 1.3 billion people aged 15–24 are employed in agrifood systems. Yet, young people often lack the resources and representation needed to succeed.

 “Young people are often included in policy processes, but it’s often tokenistic. They don’t feel their voice truly matters,” said Lauren Phillips, deputy director at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

This week and next, the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is meeting in New York to review progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the goal of ensuring decent work for all.

Yet, more than half the global workforce remains in informal employment, lacking legal or social protections, according to the UN Secretary-General’s SDG report.

“Decent work must be at the core of macroeconomic planning, climate and energy transitions, and social recovery strategies,” said Sangheon Lee of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Young people face distinct challenges in agriculture. They often lack land rights, struggle to organize collectively, and have limited access to credit.

“If you're not analyzing data through an age or gender lens, you're missing part of the story,” Ms. Phillips said.

Many elderly landowners hesitate to pass down land due to inadequate social protections, further limiting youth access to productive assets.

Betty Seray Sam, a young farmer in Kono, said her family never sought help from her during crises, knowing she had no money and a child to support.

Now, thanks to her agricultural work, she is able to support them during tough times.

“This project has had a ripple effect — improving not just youth livelihoods, but also those of their families,” said Abdul Munu, president of Mabunduku, a community farming group in Kono.

Training is key to sustainable agriculture. In Chegutu, Zimbabwe, the FAO has launched Bee Farmers Schools where youth learn to manage apiaries through hands-on instruction.

 “One apiary becomes a classroom, where youth from across the district learn like in a school,” said Barnabas Mawire, a natural resource specialist at FAO.

These skills have helped local youth scale from small-scale honey makers to full-fledged entrepreneurs — boosting income and fighting poverty.

Evelyn Mutuda, a youth representative in Chegutu, plans to plant jacaranda trees to improve honey quality and expand into export markets.

“We want to maximize profits and grow bigger,” she said.

Forming labor associations is vital to securing decent work. For young people in agrifood, collective action is key — especially when social capital is low.

“Youth are just starting out, forming bonds within and beyond their groups. These bonds matter, because there’s power in numbers,” Ms. Phillips said.

Many youth are leveraging technology to build solidarity, with agrifood influencers on TikTok and Instagram shaping sector conversations.

Intergenerational solidarity is also crucial.

“Young people live in families… A lot of the report emphasizes the need for generational unity,” Ms. Phillips said.

As future stewards of global food systems, youth involvement is vital for long-term food security and sustainability.

“Many young people blend tradition with innovation, building sustainability and community resilience,” said Venedio Nala Ardisa, of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact.

Angeline Manhanzva, a young beekeeper in Chegutu, said beekeeping changed her life. She dreams of one day owning her own large farm.

“I will grow old with wealth, my own land, and a honey processing business,” she said.