Agricultural stakeholders from Kirinyaga county are targeting to increase the number of youths engaging in farming in a bid to bolster employment and boost the county’s economy.
The sector leaders noted that agricultural production is endangered due to the insignificant number of youth involved in farming activities yet agriculture is a major source of employment and backbone to Kenya’s economy.
The Director of Mazao Afya, Peter Karanja, highlights that the current age of most farmers is about 60 years posing a serious negative impact on agricultural output once they step down from farming activities without a younger, well-prepared generation to take over.
Speaking at Agitech farm in Mutithi Mwea during training of farmers ahead of October Agri Expo, Karanja suggested that the government should come up with initiatives that will motivate young Kenyans to engage in farming leveraging technology to reap returns from their labour.
“What we are trying to say here is that farming is actually endangered in the current status because the people who are actually doing farming currently are people aged over 60. This is not a very good scenario because once this particular group leaves or exits the farming space, we might have a big problem. And that is why we are very keen and deliberate to bring in the youth so that they can acknowledge agriculture is a business enterprise nowadays.” Karanja noted.
The theme of this year’s expo is “Guarding the Future of Agribusiness through Youth Inclusion, Financial Empowerment, Technology and Sustainability.”
The main aim of the expo is to teach farmers and especially youths the need to adopt technology in farming and take it as a serious business in order to increase their agricultural production.
Agri Tech Expo 2025, Chairperson Muriithi Mwai said they are targeting to bring on board youth who form a large segment of the society, because they are more energetic as well as tech-savvy and have the latest information at their fingertips which the current world is embracing.
“We are embracing our youths because they have learnt and have technology at their fingertips to support our farmers. The impact of embracing technology includes minimising the cost of production, wastage of chemicals and the misuse of other inputs,” said Mwai.
He cited the use of technology in irrigation as key in minimising water wastage as well as expenditure in human resource. In addition, application of fertiliser will ensure the precise quantity is used.
Eliud Mwangi, a young farmer, encouraged youths not to look for white-collar jobs but to engage in agribusiness, which is equally rewarding and profitable.
By Mutai Kipngetich
