Abstract:

Agriculture development for business amongst the youth though involved (on a small scale) is low and benefiting from it for improved livelihoods is hard to come by. Precisely, the aquaculture value chain is constrained by various factors among which include; limited skills development, capital
source, market value addition, financial institutions, laws among others. Youth in fisheries and aquaculture are champions at different nodes of the value chain. These may act as fish farmers, traders, retailers, wholesalers and consumers. In order to benefit from the aquaculture enterprise and its value chain, skilling youth is paramount for significant positive results’ attainment especially improved youth livelihoods. In the Albertine Graben region, opportunities like in the oil and gas industry are worth tapping in by the youth. The high demand for fine agricultural products of which fish is among, positions the youth in the region at a better advantage to benefit and improve their livelihoods through increased employment. It is against this background that, the Bulindi Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Bulindi ZARDI) aquaculture section trained youth in practical and theoretical climate smart aquaculture (fish farming) for improved skills and employability. The training activity was carried out from the 1st to 11th of April 2022.