Youth in Vihiga County have been urged to embrace commercial agribusiness and modern farming technologies as key solutions to unemployment and poverty.
Speaking during celebrations to mark International Youth Day at Jesus Christ Centre in Sabatia Sub County, youth leaders said the focus should shift from subsistence farming to structured, income-generating enterprises that guarantee self-reliance.
Gideon Watson, President of the Vihiga Youth County and representative of Wodanga Ward, commended Sabatia Member of Parliament Hon. Clement Sloya, popularly known as Cisco Mbindi, for launching a flagship youth poultry incubator project.
He said the facility was the first of its kind in Sabatia and was expected to serve over 30,000 young people within six months by hatching chicks and supporting youth-led enterprises.
Watson stated that youth were marking the day through concrete action rather than rhetoric, and that the project would foster complete self-reliance at the grassroots.
The Chairperson of the Vihiga Young Farmers Association (VYFA) said the organization, formed after consultations with the County Department of Agriculture under Chief Officer Dr. Betty Mulianga, had registered 550 youth aged between 18 and 35.
He noted that despite fertile soils and favorable climate in Vihiga, many farmers still practiced low-yield subsistence farming.
He said VYFA had partnered with VIAN, the Vihiga Innovation Hub and other development partners to train youth in modern, climate-smart agribusiness techniques to bridge the gap.
Under the county government led by Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo and in partnership with Kenya Coffee Platform Limited (KCPL), officials said youth were being trained in modern coffee propagation.
They announced the rollout of a mobile-based UPI digital tracking platform that would allow young farmers to monitor coffee grades from their phones.
The system is expected to enable direct sales to processing factories in Wamondo and Gisambai at competitive prices, thereby eliminating exploitative middlemen.
Following the launch of the Sabatia incubator, VYFA officials said registered youth groups of between five and ten members would receive starter packs containing 50 chicks and initial bags of feed.
They added that agricultural extension officers would conduct home visits at least twice a month to provide hands-on training and manage disease control against Newcastle Disease, Fowl Pox and Gumboro. Leaders said the initiative was aimed at building sustainable poultry enterprises.
The association further announced the distribution of improved seedlings for indigenous African leafy vegetables such as managu and kales to registered youth groups.
Officials said the crops were fast-maturing and would generate quick household income while boosting food security.
On livestock, they said youth were being linked to modern dairy breeding programs and Artificial Insemination (AI) services to facilitate cross-breeding, improve livestock quality and increase milk yields across the county.
Youth leaders emphasized the importance of forming cooperatives and registered working groups to access government inputs, training and markets.
They said members were being trained on drafting competitive funding proposals and bidding for county supply tenders. Officials noted that organized groups would have better chances of accessing both domestic and export markets.
They urged unorganized youth across Vihiga to join cooperatives to benefit fully from ongoing agricultural programs.
By Victor Zedy
