Awendo: Youth have been urged to take a leading role in food production, environmental conservation, and community development through organised farm labour solidarity and food cooperatives. Speaking during a youth training programme at Mulo Cooperative Society in Awendo Sub-County, the General Coordinator of the Kenya Peasants League (KPS), David Otieno, highlighted the benefits of the Farm Labour Solidarity Building Programme, which aims to unite young people within food cooperatives to support farmers with labour.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Kenya Peasants League is committed to helping the food production industry identify and respond to challenges affecting households and communities. The programme has successfully brought together youth from various counties, encouraging them to visit farms and provide much-needed labour support to farmers.
The organisers of the programme are addressing the trend of young people leaving rural areas in search of urban employment, leaving older community members to manage farming activities. This initiative aims to ensure youth involvement in food cooperative markets, where they can work as sales agents, collect orders, package and distribute food, and engage in income-generating business opportunities.
A crucial aspect of the programme is establishing agroecology schools within food cooperatives and clusters. These schools educate young men and women on sustainable agriculture, indigenous seeds, environmental protection, and community development. Additionally, senior schools focus on women’s rights, sexual and reproductive rights, and encourage young men to become responsible community members.
Otieno stressed the importance of involving young people in household and community decision-making, emphasizing that equality and cooperation between parents and children are vital for building stronger families and communities. The programme also featured food festivals showcasing indigenous foods prepared by young people, aiming to preserve traditional knowledge and strengthen connections between parents, youth, households, and food production.
The initiative gathered over 100 youths from Migori and other regions, connecting them to a network of more than 67 food cooperatives. Patrick Otieno Oduor, a youth leader from Ndere Ligega Youth Food Cooperative in Siaya County, noted that the training exposed participants to digital platforms and technology, enhancing communication, marketing, and access to information.
Oduor emphasized the importance of preserving indigenous seeds and embracing organic farming practices, highlighting traditional farming knowledge as crucial for sustainable food production. Wendy Agola, a youth from Nairobi, shared that the programme enriched her understanding of farming, climate protection, and teamwork, encouraging young people to create employment opportunities through agriculture.
Agola plans to mobilise more young people to form groups promoting farm labour solidarity, food production, and cooperation within communities, contributing to personal and national wealth creation. She cited teamwork, a growth mindset, confidence, and volunteerism as key elements for success in agricultural entrepreneurship.
Michelle Atieno from Migori urged young people to seize available opportunities and actively participate in farm labour solidarity programmes to acquire essential skills for successful agricultural entrepreneurship. The youths called for increased government support for sustainable agriculture and smart climate farming, expressing concerns about the reliance on inorganic agricultural inputs affecting soil health and fertility. Atieno advocated for farming practices that protect soil fertility through organic fertilizers and indigenous seeds to strengthen communities’ food production capabilities.
