Kakamega Youth Urged to Seize Opportunities in Agriculture

Key Highlights

• Kakamega County government calls on youth to take up farming as a source of income.
• Parents encouraged to allocate land to their children for agricultural use.
• County pledges new policies and financing support to attract young farmers.
• Over 10,000 youth already engaged through the RAY project by Practical Action.
• Youth adopting modern farming technologies across different value chains.
• Farmers advised to register with KIAMIS for access to subsidies and government services.
• Call for farmers to join Producer Organizations to strengthen market supply.

County Pushes for Youth Involvement in Farming

The Kakamega County government has challenged young people to embrace agriculture as a viable source of income, pledging to provide both policy and financial support to help them succeed.

Speaking during an Agricultural Field Day in Navakholo, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Social Services, Sports, Youth, Gender and Culture, Jackline Masicha, urged parents to set aside land for their children to farm. She noted that land access remains a major barrier, discouraging many young people despite their interest in agriculture.

Representing Agriculture CECM Mophat Mandela, Masicha said the county is working on policies and partnerships with organizations to expand access to agricultural financing. These efforts aim to make farming more attractive and practical for young people.

The push comes as Practical Action, through its Resilient Agriculture that Works for Young People (RAY) project, has already supported more than 10,000 youth in Kakamega County. According to Senior Project Officer Monicah Rapado, the program has enabled young farmers to explore diverse value chains while adopting new technologies that simplify farming and improve productivity.

Kakamega County Director of Agriculture, Titus Omengo, also encouraged farmers to register with the Kenya Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (KIAMIS). He explained that the platform provides access to subsidized fertilizer, livestock vaccinations, and other government-backed support programs.

Omengo further urged farmers to join Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), stressing that collective production and marketing would help them meet market demand more effectively and boost their incomes.