Youth Engagement in Senegalese Agribusiness and Food Systems: A Replication Study

Youth engagement in agribusiness and food systems is critical for rural development in Senegal. Despite previous studies highlighting youth participation, there remains a need to replicate findings with contemporary data. A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative survey data from a nationally representative sample with qualitative interviews to comprehensively assess youth involvement and challenges within agribusinesses and food systems in Senegal. Youth participation rates varied significantly across different regions, with a notable trend towards increased engagement in value-added processing activities compared to traditional farming roles (85% vs. 70%). The replication study confirms the initial findings but also identifies regional disparities and emerging trends in youth involvement that require targeted interventions. Policy makers should focus on developing tailored training programmes for value-added processing sectors, while promoting inclusive business models to attract young entrepreneurs into agribusinesses. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.