Growing opportunity through agriculture in Kenya
Equipped with new skills and digital tools, Kennedy is increasing his farm's productivity, sharing knowledge and creating opportunities for others.
On a quarter-acre farm, Kennedy is building a livelihood rooted in agriculture. He grows coffee beans, avocados and tomatoes, while running a small business selling goat manure to local farmers.
Kennedy sources the manure from pastoralists, packages it into sacks, and sells it as a natural fertilizer. He also uses it on his own farm to improve soil health and productivity.
“This manure is very good for farming,” he says. Like many young people entering agriculture, Kennedy saw both potential and challenges. Farmers in his community were often relying on outdated methods, with limited access to new knowledge or tools. “Many farmers are willing to change, but they don’t know how,” he explains.
Through GenU’s EKYAN programme – which provides young people, especially women, with the skills and on-the-job learning for livelihood opportunities in agribusiness – Kennedy was trained in modern farming techniques, business skills and leadership. With access to digital tools such as tablets and routers, he began sharing this knowledge with others.
It will strengthen private sector linkages in rural communities, emphasizing skill development and business opportunities in climate-smart technologies and regenerative agriculture.
“My favourite part of the programme is the Leadership Academy. It showed me the importance of mindset, budgeting and having a plan,” he says.
Today, Kennedy trains both farmers and students in his community. He has reached around 150 farmers, focusing on nutrition, regenerative agriculture and practical ways to increase productivity while reducing labour. He also works with school students, recognizing the ripple effect of early learning.
“By teaching children, you also reach their families,” he says.
Kennedy puts these lessons into practice on his farm. Using improved methods and inputs, he is able to harvest up to 200 kilograms of produce each week from his small plot. He has also doubled his income. At the same time, he is helping farmers adapt to a changing climate.
“The rainy seasons are delayed now, so farmers have to adjust their plans,” he says. Kennedy is committed to showing that agriculture can be both profitable and sustainable, especially for young people. “With the right knowledge, farmers can improve their yields and build a better future.”
About EKYAN
Engaging Kenyan Youth in Agriculture and Nutrition (EKYAN) is a Generation Unlimited programme designed to provide young people, especially women, with the market-driven skills and on-the-job learning for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in agribusiness, while building regenerative agriculture models that promote circular economies in predominantly rural areas.
EKYAN enables young agripreneurs in Kenya to incubate businesses and earn a decent livelihood, support farmers to improve their economic livelihoods in a climate-smart manner, and train young people in Kenya on food systems. EKYAN’s aim is to improve engagement of young people in agriculture and contribute towards better economic livelihoods, food systems and nutrition.
EKYAN is supported by the governments of Kenya, the Netherlands and Canada, and implemented in collaboration with Kenyan-based social enterprise Kuza Biashara and Dutch international development organization SNV.
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