Nairobi: The government has lauded the growing participation of young people in agriculture, describing it as a key driver of Kenya’s efforts to achieve food security and spur economic growth. Speaking during the World Food Day celebrations held in Homa Bay County, the Secretary of Administration in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Rashid Khator, emphasized the positive shift in attitudes toward farming, with more youth embracing modern and climate-smart agricultural practices.
According to Kenya News Agency, Khator highlighted the government’s role in creating an environment conducive to innovation and smart agriculture, aiming to ensure all Kenyans can thrive and achieve food security. He praised the youth’s perception of farming as a viable and sustainable economic activity. The event, themed ‘Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future,’ brought together representatives from national and county governments and international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP).
Khator noted the government’s progress in food production through initiatives like the subsidy program, which provides farmers with affordable seeds and fertilizers. He reiterated the need for farmers to thrive and acknowledged the opportunity World Food Day presents to showcase what farmers are achieving on the ground.
WFP Deputy Country Director Sune Keit stressed the importance of collective action in achieving food security, emphasizing that transforming food systems is a shared responsibility. He called for renewed investments, stronger collaborations, and bold policy choices to support Kenya’s vulnerable population. Despite progress, Keit acknowledged that Kenya continues to face challenges such as malnutrition, with one in every five children under five being stunted and many families struggling to access nutritious food.
Keit urged stakeholders to move from ambition to action, highlighting Kenya’s innovation and resilience, especially among smallholder farmers, women, and youth. He emphasized the significance of partnerships between governments, international organizations, and the private sector in advancing sustainable agriculture and improving food security.
FAO Representative to Tanzania and interim representative in Kenya, Dr. Nyabenyi Tipo, reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to empowering farmers as central players in achieving national food security. She discussed the recently launched Tunza Project in Kisumu, targeting 13 counties within the lake region to promote climate resilience and sustainable agricultural practices. Tipo emphasized FAO’s collaboration with county governments to build sustainable food systems across the region.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga highlighted the county government’s focus on key value chains, including cotton, edible oils, maize, millet, and sorghum, to boost local production and industrialization. Wanga announced plans to launch an Agriculture Training School in Kabondo Kasipul to equip farmers, especially young people, with skills in agribusiness, value addition, and modern farming.