Timor-Leste is facing a major challenge to be able to accommodate between 20,000 to 30,000 young people who enter the labour force each year. Currently, Timor-Leste’s economy cannot absorb these young people, as the sectors which provide many jobs such as manufacturing industries are not yet well-developed. On the other hand, the agriculture sector can provide significant employment, but there has been a decline overtime in the number of young farmers around the world, which suggests that young women and men have become less involved in this sector. Most heads of agricultural households are above forty (40) years old, the age at which the productivity of agricultural workers begins to fall. Agricultural households are also dominated by populations with only primary or no formal education. On-the-ground realities show that Timor-Leste’s agricultural productivity is low compared to other countries in the Southeast Asia region.
The study was carried out in close collaboration with the Timor-Leste Agricultural Alliance.
This publication has been funded under the Hadalan phase 2 project by Oxfam in Timor-Leste supported by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Governance for Development Program. The views expressed in this publication are the author’s alone and are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government.