Currently Rodrigues is facing a high rate of youth unemployment and this is fuelling continuous waves of migration. Unemployment in Rodrigues is due to lack of local businesses and insufficient supply on the job market. Based from the Rodrigues Employment Information Centre data, it was estimated that youth unemployment rate in 2012 was around 52 % (16-29 years). This shows how the situation is alarming and therefore to tackle this social issue the Rodrigues Regional Assembly aims to encourage young Rodriguans to become entrepreneurs. The vision is to allow youth to create their own job opportunities. Studies have shown that given the high prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Rodrigues, single female-headed families are the most affected by poverty. Many of the families have revenue below the poverty line and most of the children of these mothers are marginalised and stigmatised. Most of them are academically poor performers and making it difficult for them to secure decent jobs. These young people are thus, more prone to social vices such as prostitution, alcoholism, and theft. To avoid such incidences, Rodrigues Regional Youth Council wants to empower these youth to allow them having a decent life.

In the past three decades the total area under agricultural production has continuously decreased.
Graph showing the decrease in area under cultivation from 1989 and 2009

In addition to the decreasing area of production, a decrease in the yield production has also been observed due to inadequate agricultural practices in particular. Even though some farmers still make use of traditional organic agricultural practices, the use of agrochemical products has been diffused in the agriculture sector in Rodrigues during the past decades.
Given the challenges affecting the agriculture sector, in the past four decades: varying climatic conditions, the degradation of land and the small size of agricultural unit, the adoption of high value organic farming is an important avenue to allow the revival and expansion of the agricultural sector.
This project will contribute to the implementation of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly (RRA) ambitious agricultural policy of agrarian reform which is based on: production, processing and exportation. It will also contribute in the realization of some key objectives set in the 5 year RRA government programme, namely: educating youths to be responsible of their future; developing an entrepreneurial culture that will foster an emerging sustainable economy, making education and training the engine for the profound transformation of the Rodriguan society; engaging in a relentless fight against poverty through an empowerment plan; and making Rodrigues a green and sustainable island.
Overall objective:
To empower youth (mainly school drop outs and prevocational students) to become future entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector by adopting organic agricultural and livestock farming methods through capacity building trainings at the ?Atelier de Savoir Agricole?.
Specific Objectives
1. To set-up an Atelier de Savoir Agricole at La Fouche Mangues.
2. To cultivate 4,667 m2 of land at La Fouche Mangues.
3. To train 2 trainers in organic farming teaching
4. To provide professional and technical trainings each year to 20 youths (16-25 years) who are academically low achievers;
5. To promote organic food production;
6. To promote local consumption of organic food.

Rationale
It is interesting to note that despite agriculture being a pillar of the Rodriguan economy, not many young Rodriguans are interested to develop a career in the agricultural field. Crop cultivation is generally practiced by the elders. Therefore, the Rodrigues Regional Youth Council and the Commission of youth are encouraging young Rodriguans to get involved in agri-business. Promoting organic farming will help inculcate good practices of crop cultivation and animal husbandry while addressing land degradation. It is important to note that beneficiaries are marginalised and the setting-up of the organic farming school will thus empower them in view to provide them with technical and professional skills. The vision is to provide these young people with the required skills to become autonomous and earn their livelihood sustainably. These young Rodriguans will consequently spread the culture of adopting healthy eating habits by encouraging the population to consume organic food.
Overall outcome
Empowered youth to become employable and future entrepreneurs in organic farming.

Specific outcomes:
1. A building built at La Fouche Mangues to host the « Atelier de Savoir Agricole »
2. Two trainers trained and qualified to teach organic farming;
3. Twenty young people enrolled every year to become professionals in organic farming;
4. 4,667 m2 of land used in conducting organic farming;
5. Increased number of people consuming organic food and increase food security.