Youth Empowerment through Sustainable Agriculture (YESA)

Three quarters of the population of Kenya are directly engaged in agriculture.  The Government of Kenya is encouraging the formation of Young Farmers’ Clubs within high schools throughout the country to support their aim to develop a vibrant rural economy. However, most schools lack the funds to buy essential items such as textbooks let alone seeds and tools to equip the Young Farmers’ Clubs. Teachers often lack knowledge of the latest agricultural technologies and once a young person has left school there is very little support for them to make a living from agriculture in rural areas.  In Trans-Nzoia East district, this has contributed to high levels of rural youth unemployment (almost 20% for 15 -19 year-olds).

Sexual and reproductive health is also a major problem, with high levels of sexually transmitted infections and in particular HIV/AIDS in young adults resulting in significant loss of labour due to illness and death. Affected farmers have consequently shifted to less labour-intensive agricultural production and much of the land of families hit by HIV/AIDS remains idle due to labour shortage and death.

Farm Africa is working with young people in Trans-Nzoia East district to tackle both of these issues, enabling them to produce more, higher quality food and giving them the skills they need to make a good living from agriculture.  Farm Africa is also helping them to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health to safeguard their future.

How are communities benefitting?

• Farm Africa is helping young people to establish demonstration plots, both at school and in their community. These plots are enabling young people to receive agricultural training on new technologies in animal and crop husbandry and to demonstrate their experience to the wider community.  These plots are helping them to understand how increasing the quality of their crop will improve its value. 

• Young people are receiving practical training on cultivation of high value crops such as spinach, tomatoes and beans. Farm Africa is also equipping young people with the processing and marketing skills they need to add value to their crop and sell it for a good price.

• As part of the project, training will be provided for youth councillors in sexual and reproductive health so they can educate other young people in safe sexual behaviours.

Who are we helping?   
We are working directly with 500 young people and their families (around 3,000 people) living in Trans-Nzoia East district, Rift Valley province.

Project Partners
Farm Africa is working together with Young Farmers of Kenya, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health.

Click here to read Farm Africa's publication:  Scaling-up success.  Our strategy for greater impact.