Exhibitors at Mutithi in Mwea West subcounty,
Kirinyaga county, where the Agri-tech Grand Expo will
be held in October /ALICE WAITHERA
Youths have been urged to embrace agriculture as ageing farmers could affect food production.
Mwai Muriithi, the chairperson of Agri-tech Grand Expo, an annual agricultural technology exhibition held in Kirinyaga County, said including youths in agri-business is crucial in boosting food security.
Muriithi said the low number of youths engaging in farming in the country could lead to a gap in food production once the older generation is no longer able to farm.
He noted that this year’s expo, to be held from October 3 to 5 at Mutithi in Mwea West subcounty, targets the youths by showcasing technology that can make farming less grueling and more profitable.
The expo, themed 'Safeguarding the future of agribusiness through youth inclusion, technology, financial empowerment and sustainability', also seeks to encourage young Kenyans to take advantage of the numerous opportunities provided though the various agriculture value chains.
“We need the youth to get on board for this sector to thrive because they are energetic, learned and open-minded,” he said.
The population census conducted in 2019 indicated that most small holder farmers were aged between 55 to 60 years.
A study published in Frontiersin.Org indicated that the average age of small-holder farmers had gone down in 2024 to 48.4 years.
The effects of older generations engaging in agriculture, Muriithi said, is lowered returns and productivity due to lessened physical capacity, poor access to credit and information and technology adoption.
He said technology cuts costs of production incurred in agriculture while making farming activities less physically demanding.
“Technology enables precision farming that reduces wastage because a farmer uses data to determine how much inputs to apply in farms. Like in drip irrigation, water wastage and human resource is minimised, which boosts profits,” he said.
But he noted that older farmers are hesitant to embrace such technologies which in turn serves to discourage the youths due to the minimal proceeds realised.
Peter Karanja, the director of Mazao Afya, one of the organisations participating in the expo, said farming is endangered if younger generations don’t get on board.
“This is why we are so keen to bring in the youths so they can be trained to take agriculture as a business, especially tech-based agriculture, and learn that there are many solutions available that can make farming profitable”.
Karanja said numerous exhibitors will showcase solar-powered farming machines in a bid to dissuade farmers from fuel-powered ones that contribute to climate change and high costs.
Attendants will also be trained on financial literacy by financial institutions to enable them better manage their farms.
He also called on the government to come up with initiatives that woo young Kenyans into the sector, especially through technology, in order to achieve food security.
