Nyeri: Nyeri County has partnered with the Council of Governors, One Acre Fund, and the Mastercard Foundation to unveil a project aimed at encouraging youth to embrace farming as an income-generating activity. The initiative, titled Reshaping Kenyan Agriculture for Dignified Youth Livelihoods, seeks to engage over 3,500 young people aged 18-35 in Nyeri County and nearly 300,000 youth across 34 other counties in Kenya.
According to Kenya News Agency, Nyeri is the first county to launch the project, five months after the Council of Governors signed a Memorandum of Understanding with One Acre Fund to promote sustainable agricultural practices and rural development. The MoU also involves collaboration to boost agricultural productivity across the country.
One Acre Fund Global Director for Government Relations and Policy, Yael Hartman, stated that the project aims to transform the lives of young people by altering their views on agriculture. Modern technology will be incorporated to attract and inspire youth to
join the sector. The project will empower youth by promoting high-value crop cultivation, modern farming techniques, and connecting young farmers with market opportunities. ‘We are focusing on high-value crops and giving high-value seeds, such as tomatoes,’ Hartman explained.
Faith Kamande, Mount Kenya Government Relations Compliance Coordinator at One Acre Fund, highlighted that the project addresses three major obstacles preventing those under 35 from pursuing agricultural careers: lack of capital, exclusion from the agriculture value chain, and land availability. Kamande mentioned efforts to enlighten potential young farmers about the programme and explore land leasing arrangements. She also urged parents to release land to support youth and advised that agriculture offers opportunities beyond just tilling.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga emphasized the importance of involving youth in agriculture during the project’s launch. He noted that the initiative could unlock the county’s agricultural potential by p
romoting other high-value crops and reducing reliance on coffee and tea. The governor assured that county agriculture officers would support the initiative through extension services. ‘We urge the youth to embrace the programme; it may not seem attractive now, but it offers financial potential,’ Kahiga stated.