Financial inclusion enhances economic growth by facilitating businesses and individuals to access financial resources. Financial inclusion also contributes to environmental sustainability; however, very few studies have explored the link between financial inclusion and the environment. Also, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on environmental performance remains unexplored. From this perspective, this study probes the objective of whether financial inclusion and environmental performance co-move in COVID-19 in highly polluted economies. This objective is tested with the help of 2SLS and GMM approaches. The study also gets assistance from a panel quantile regression approach for empirical tasks. The results show that financial inclusion and the COVID-19 pandemic have a negative impact on CO2 emissions. Based on these findings, the study suggests that highly polluted economies should promote financial inclusion and assimilate environmental policies with financial inclusion policies to attain environment-related goals.

The participation of young people in agriculture is crucial in generating job opportunities and fostering the growth of agri-food systems in developing countries, particularly in Africa. This study aims to provide an in-depth review of existing studies on young people’s perceptions and factors influencing their participation in agribusiness. Additionally, the study aims to investigate the impact of the skill training intervention on youth engagement in agribusiness. The study also identifies and analyzes the constraints that hindered their engagement. The PRISMA guideline was followed to analyze 57 studies across Sub-Saharan Africa. Studies published from 2012 to 2022 were retrieved from various digital libraries, such as Google Scholar, Emerald Insight, Taylor & Francis Online, Wiley Online Library, and Science Direct. The review findings highlight that many young people in Africa view agriculture as a profitable industry and a means of subsistence. However, it was also observed that there are divergent opinions regarding agribusiness among young individuals. Factors such as access to finance, education, skills training, perceived social support, and prior experience in farming emerged as critical determinants influencing their decision to engage in agribusiness. Moreover, the study reveals that skill training programs positively impact youth participation in agribusiness. These interventions enhance their skills, increasing productivity, income, and employment opportunities. Nevertheless, access to finance and other essential resources, such as land and extension support, were identified as significant barriers to the involvement of young people in agribusiness. In order to promote the advancement of agri-food systems in Africa through youth participation, youth policies must prioritize access to various resources, including but not limited to capital, education, skills training, land, extension support, social support, mentoring, and private-sector involvement.

Agripreneurship is a new buzzword in the discourse on economic development. It is a new global idea aiming to change agriculture from a subsistence sector to a competitive business. The primary objective of this study is to document the level of knowledge of young agripreneurs. The study also assesses factors that stimulated their interest in initiating agribusiness ventures in The Gambia. To achieve this, survey data were collected from 384 young agripreneurs using a self-administered questionnaire in five agricultural zones in the Gambia. Data were analyzed using descriptive factor and k-mean cluster analyses. The findings indicated that the respondents had a medium knowledge of all agripreneurial behavioral components used in the study. Based on the push-pull anchor framework, we found that young agripreneurs about family misfortune, lack of job opportunities, dismissal from the previous job, poverty (push factors), low financial status, economic independence and the pursuit of self-actualization (push factors), opportunities in agriculture and the encouragement from the government (mooring factors) all play a significant role in the motivation to pursue agripreneurship. Furthermore, the results of the cluster analysis revealed four distinct groups of young farmers: ambitious agripreneurs, financial reward seekers, agribusiness lovers, and social protectors. Kruskal Wallis and post hoc tests indicated statistically significant differences between groupings. These findings suggest that for policymakers to understand the potential of the agripreneurship sector, it is a need to pay close attention to the level of knowledge and motivations of agripreneurs in order to design appropriate policies for greater participation of youth in agripreneurship. Implications for theory, as well as limitations and potential future directions, were discussed.

Seed management practices—referred to as seed treatment, storage, and timely replacement—are critical for improving crop quality, enhancing wheat productivity, and ensuring food security. Despite initiatives started by public and private institutions in Pakistan to promote these practices, their adoption among wheat farmers is often limited. This study investigated the adoption of seed management practices in Punjab province and their impact on wheat productivity. Wheat farmers were approached for data collection in Sheikhupura district using a structured questionnaire and convenience sampling method. Descriptive analysis was carried out with the help of SPSS 26, while relationships between variables were assessed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The results of the analysis indicated that the adoption of seed management practices was significantly affected by technical attributes, institutional support, financial constraints, and access to information. In contrast, marketing factors did not exhibit a significant impact. Additionally, it was discovered that the adoption of these practices had a statistically significant and positive effect on wheat productivity. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions such as improved farmer training, enhanced access to certified seeds, and investment in storage infrastructure to strengthen seed systems and promote adoption. These findings provide crucial empirical evidence that can guide policymakers and agricultural stakeholders in designing effective strategies for sustainable wheat production and rural development. This study provides localized evidence on wheat seed management practices in Punjab. 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