MAKUENI, Kenya — The Makueni County Government, in collaboration with Anglican Development Services (ADS) Eastern Region, has announced an investment of Sh11 million to provide agricultural training to 480 individuals at the Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) in Kwa Kathoka. This initiative aims to empower the youth and women with essential skills in horticulture, dairy, and poultry farming to enhance food security and self-reliance within the county.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation Executive Committee Member (ECM), the program specifically targets young people and women, offering them a comprehensive training package that includes tuition fees, meals, and examination fees for the course’s last three months. “The total cost will be Sh11 million, with the county government contributing 40 percent and ADS 60 percent,” Mutua stated during a ceremony at Kwa Kathoka, where she sent off 60 trainees for a three-month industrial attachment.
The first cohort of trainees, consisting of 60 youths and 420 women farmers, began their training in November 2023. They have received extensive instruction in key agricultural sectors, aiming to graduate in May 2024 after completing their industrial attachment. “The 420 farmers have benefited from a field school program that has enabled them to acquire agricultural education after ATC tutors visited them at their homes,” Mutua added.
Furthermore, Mutua revealed plans for the trainees to write proposals to qualify for capital seed funding from the county government, a step designed to help kickstart their agricultural enterprises post-training.
Dr. Victoria Kyalo, the Agriculture Chief Officer (CO), speaking at the event, emphasized the future sustainability of the program, indicating that incoming trainees would share the costs with the county government and partners. This cost-sharing model aims to ensure the program’s longevity and impact on future generations in Makueni County.
This training initiative underscores Makueni County’s commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity and economic empowerment among its residents, particularly focusing on the inclusion of youth and women in the sector’s development.