Kisumu county has partnered with Giz, Practical Action and FAO in a bid to create employment opportunity for youths in Agri-business.
Speaking during the launch of the project dubbed Kisumu County Youth Agri-business Strategy, Agriculture CEC Ken Onyango said the project will address the gaps that lead to low economic development and create employment for the youth.
“The Agri-Jobs 4 Youths approach is premised on the need to address both the supply side of labour training youths in agribusiness skills and demand side by creating more entrepreneurs in Agri-Food Sector,” he said.
“So far about 700 youths have been trained through Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology (RIAT) and NITA and the TVETs while additional 800 have benefited directly through FAO Food Systems interventions,” he said.
CEC Ken Onyango
Agriculture
Agriculture sector contributes 33 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 27 per cent through linkages in sub sectors.
Despite the potential of the sector, youths have not achieved much due to lack of better framework and negative perception.
With 22 out 31 per cent of youths in Kisumu fully unemployed the CEC who represented the Governor art the event said the project seeks to see the youth benefit from improved training and employment opportunities.
“So far about 700 youths have been trained through Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology (RIAT) and NITA and the TVETs while additional 800 have benefited directly through FAO Food Systems interventions,” he said.
Youths are unemployed and there is opportunity in the agriculture sector to become owners of small business
CEC Beatrice Odongo
Employment
He further said the project will enhance youth employment prospects by equipping them for the labour market while increasing the demand for labour.
Sports and youth affairs CEC Beatrice Odongo on the other hand urged the youth to the transform agriculture industry and ensure there is massive growth through creation of jobs.
“Youths are unemployed and there is opportunity in the agriculture sector to become owners of small business,” she said.
They were also accompanied by He was accompanied by Public Service CEC Judith Oluoch who urged the stake holders to adopt technology to reduce cost of production.
She said this would create more opportunities for income, employment and ensure food security for the region.
