The Uasin Gishu County Government, in partnership with the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), has recruited and trained 110 young agripreneurs to strengthen agricultural extension services and boost productivity among smallholder farmers.
The agri-preneurs, drawn from the county’s 110 sub-locations, will provide technical support to farmers engaged in key value chains including dairy, indigenous poultry, avocados, potatoes and other enterprises. The initiative is expected to increase farm productivity, improve household incomes and create employment opportunities for young people.
Speaking in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County NAVCDP Coordinator Cosmas Langat said the programme seeks to address the long-standing shortage of agricultural extension officers by introducing a private extension model that engages skilled and educated youth.
He said the county is focusing on increasing agricultural productivity and production volumes to attract larger markets and reliable buyers while ensuring farmers have access to professional advisory services.
“For a long time, extension services have not performed well because of inadequate technical staff. We have therefore developed an arrangement where trained young people provide extension services to farmers while earning an income for themselves,” said Langat.
He noted that the model creates a win-win situation by enabling farmers to adopt improved farming practices while allowing agripreneurs to generate income through commissions, service fees and marketing linkages.
According to Langat, agri-preneurs will earn commissions by connecting farmers with suppliers of farm inputs and agricultural technologies, as well as linking producers to markets.
They will also charge modest fees for services such as grafting, pruning, and other farm management practices.
He said the approach not only improves service delivery to farmers but also offers sustainable employment opportunities for youth with agricultural skills.
Langat revealed that NAVCDP has been holding planning meetings with the agripreneurs to strengthen their capacity in service delivery, particularly in data collection, while exposing them to different business models and linking them with stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
“We have 110 agri-preneurs, meaning each of the county’s 110 sub-locations has one agri-preneur. This brings extension services closer to farmers, making them more accessible,” he said.
He encouraged farmers to work closely with the agripreneurs in their respective areas to access modern agronomic practices and livestock management techniques, noting that the youth have undergone specialized training to support farming communities.
The agri-preneurs are currently undergoing an 11-month incubation programme during which they receive technical mentorship and a monthly stipend of Sh15,000 to help establish their enterprises.
Upon completion of the incubation phase, they will transition to a six-month commercialization stage, where they are expected to sustain themselves through commissions, service charges and marketing opportunities. During this period, each agri-preneur will receive an additional monthly support of Sh 5,000 as they build viable agribusiness enterprises.
By Ekuwam Sylvester
