Agribusiness has clearly demonstrated how it is the way to go for the youth, and as a crucial pillar for food security in Africa. It is also a good thing that the mentality that Agriculture is for the older generation is slowly ebbing, as we see more and more youth take it up. Private sector is also on hand to help the youth actualize their dreams of becoming agri-preneurs.
Young Africa Works for instance, a partnership programme funded by Mastercard Foundation and run by KCB Foundation has today seen 1,030 students graduate in agribusiness, specifically trained in hydroponic farming technology.
The youth graduated from Miramar International College, as the class of 2020 with the entire cohort sponsored by the Young Africa Works Project. Following this training, the 1,030 graduates are set to receive greenhouses which they will co-own as two individuals, to kick off their entrepreneurial journey under the programme.
The Young Africa Works programme will see a total of 28,000 greenhouses constructed across the country, with the youth undergoing training on how to establish and run them.
The first 100 greenhouses are ready for use in Ngong Kibiko. Construction of the next 500 greenhouses is ongoing with 300 located in Limuru, 100 in Ruiru and another 100 in Juja.
All the greenhouses are being manufactured and constructed by KCB Foundation’s 2jiajiri programme graduates, who were trained in construction and manufacturing. Their counterparts from the agriculture pillar then come in to own the greenhouses and to plant produce for off-taking.
The Young Africa Works project, is funded by Mastercard Foundation to a tune of $125 million (KSh12.5 billion) and executed by the KCB Foundation’s 2jiajiri programme. It plans to create 1.586 million jobs over the five years of the project’s implementation. This will be through the construction of the 28,000 greenhouses in 560 sites across the country.
Other partners in the project are: Miramar International College (agribusiness-hydroponic farming), Gearbox (manufacturing of the greenhouse structures) and ArcSkills Kenya (construction).