Government Intensifies Efforts to Make Agriculture Attractive to Young Kenyans

The Government has intensified efforts to reposition agriculture as a modern, profitable and innovation-driven sector in a bid to attract more young people and address the challenge of an aging farming population.

Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the government is equipping youth with modern farming skills, advanced technology, and international exposure to transform agriculture into a dynamic career path with global opportunities.

Speaking during the launch of Cohort Five of the Competency Based Education and Training (CBET) Programme in Horticulture Production at the Kenya School of Agriculture Songa Mbele Thika Campus, Kagwe noted that agriculture is no longer limited to traditional farming but now includes agribusiness, innovation, export markets, and international exchange programmes.

He emphasized that the CBET model is designed to produce skilled graduates ready for the labour market, with training structured to focus 80 percent on practical, hands-on experience and 20 percent on classroom theory. The programme also includes industrial attachment to ensure trainees gain real-world exposure before entering the job market.

Since its launch in January 2024, the programme has recorded significant milestones, with more than 300 graduates from the first four cohorts securing employment in the United Kingdom under the UK Seasonal Worker Scheme. The initiative is implemented through a partnership between the Kenyan and UK governments, opening international opportunities for skilled agricultural trainees.

Kagwe said such collaborations demonstrate the growing global demand for well-trained agricultural professionals and highlight the potential of agriculture as a source of employment and foreign income for Kenyan youth.

To expand access to agricultural training, the Government has also established satellite campuses in Ainabkoi and Ugenya, bringing education and practical training closer to communities and increasing enrolment opportunities.

The CS urged the new cohort to embrace agriculture as a modern and rewarding sector capable of creating jobs, improving household incomes, and strengthening Kenya’s food security.

He encouraged young people to take advantage of available training programmes, noting that transforming agriculture requires innovation, entrepreneurship, and the adoption of new technologies.

The Government’s continued investment in competency-based training is part of broader reforms aimed at modernizing the agricultural sector, improving productivity, and ensuring that young Kenyans play a central role in shaping the country’s food systems and economic growth. 🌾🚜