Youth in Kajiado County have been urged to embrace agribusiness so as to tackle unemployment and boost food security.
Speaking at Latia Agripreneurship Institute in Isinya, Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH) Skill Up Programme Manager, Farida Juma noted that many youth are still grappling with unemployment yet there are many opportunities in the agricultural sector that are still untapped.
Juma urged the youth to embrace agriculture so as to fend for themselves as well as create employment instead of searching for elusive white collar jobs.
She added that through the Skill Up programme offered at Latia, over 300 youth had been trained on agripreneurship and had gained various skills which will enable them to start up their own agricultural enterprises.
“There are many opportunities available in agriculture sector. We need to change the perception of the youth on agriculture so as to tackle unemployment. The Skill Up programme gives young people the chance to generate their own income,” said Juma.
The Manager emphasized that training of youth in agribusiness and establishing links to markets is key to development, economic growth and food security.
Charles Macharia, Managing Director Latia Resource echoed Juma’s sentiments adding that agriculture was the backbone of the economy and encouraged the youth to embrace agribusiness to boost the economy as well as ensure food security.
Macharia revealed that the 300 youth who graduated from the free agripreneuship training sponsored by BMZ, A German Organization, would be provided with vegetable seedlings, traditional chicks for rearing and feeds to enable them start up their enterprises.
Bahati Charo, one of the beneficiaries of the training, says he used the skills gained to establish his own farm in Kilifi County.
Charo grows vegetables, onions, tomatoes and keeps poultry and has so far managed to employ five people in his 5-acre farm which he leased.
He noted that many youth were still unemployed due to ignorance and called on them to embrace agriculture as it was a sure way out of poverty.
“I used the skills I gained through the Skill Up programme to start my own farm. I grow all kinds of vegetables and keep poultry, I have even managed to employ people to help me on the farm,” he said.
By Rop Janet
