The Government is stepping up efforts to make agriculture more attractive and profitable for young people as part of a broader plan to address the aging farmer population and boost productivity.
CS Sen. Mutahi Kagwe said the Government is equipping youth with modern farming skills, technology and international exposure to transform agriculture into a dynamic and rewarding sector.
Speaking during the launch of Cohort Five of the Competency Based Education and Training (CBET) Programme in Horticulture Production at the Kenya School of Agriculture Songa Mbele Thika Campus, he said agriculture now offers opportunities in innovation, agribusiness, exports and global exchange programmes.
Since its launch in January 2024, the programme has seen more than 300 graduates from the first four cohorts secure jobs in the United Kingdom under the UK Seasonal Worker Scheme through a partnership between the Kenyan and UK governments.
The CBET programme emphasizes practical learning, with 80 percent of the training focused on hands-on skills and 20% on theory, followed by industrial attachment.
To widen access to agricultural training, the Government has also established satellite campuses in Ainabkoi and Ugenya.
Kagwe urged the new cohort to embrace agriculture as a modern sector capable of creating jobs, raising incomes and strengthening Kenya’s food security.
