The Ministry of Agriculture has started reviving 4K clubs in primary schools, aimed at supporting schools feeding program.
4K is the acronym for Kuungana, Kufanya, Kusaidia Kenya, a program meant to promote farming and nurture a positive attitude towards agriculture among learners in primary schools.
The rebranded 4K clubs are being rolled out in 31,218 public primary schools across the country.
So far, 1,222 Trainers of Trainers have been deployed in 36 counties, where the ministry of Agriculture has equipped some 245 schools with greenhouses, irrigation kits, incubators and value addition tools to support hands-on learning.
According to the Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe, a majority of Kenya’s farmers are growing old, underscoring the urgent need to mentor the younger generation to venture into agriculture.
He said in addition to supporting the school feeding programs, the clubs will also equip the young farmers with the knowledge and skills to promote food security.
Kagwe further noted that the roll-out was a deliberate shift by the government to groom the next generation of agri-preneurs through practical, school-based agricultural training.
“The clubs should be at the forefront of growing food for the students because schools should be growing their own food. So we want the young people to be interested in agriculture. We want them to get passionate about agriculture. And when they grow passionate about agriculture, our country will become stable and we will have enough food in Kenya to eat and there will be no problem in feeding our population,” stated Kagwe.
The CS said that his ministry is also pushing for the introduction of Digital 4K to link learners with tech-driven farming solutions.
He said that the ministry is championing for the revitalized clubs to embrace innovative farming technologies to help modernize agriculture and improve efficiency in farming.
“Tomorrow when you are a farmer we want you to make sure you are informed. We don’t want you to just listen to other people, we want you to have some knowledge for yourself. We used to travel all over looking for information, but now the information will be in your phone because it is the new way to the future,” said Kagwe.
The CS spoke when he presided over the inauguration of revitalized 4K Club at his alma mater, Kihate Primary School in Mukurwe-ini, Nyeri County.
He urged other alumni across the country to return to their former schools and revive the spirit of the agriculture clubs and support current learners to learn agriculture practically.
He also challenged county governments, private sector players, teachers, and parents to support the initiative.
“What I would like to appeal is for the school administration, the school community and the board members to support the students when they want to start a 4K club.
The alumni should take interest in the schools they learnt, they must go back there and help them build better facilities.
They must also help the students themselves start a 4K club in that particular school and support the club so that they can understand agriculture and so that the school can also do agriculture,” said Kagwe.
By Wangari Mwangi
