AGRA: Exports kill Kenya's resources in agricultural production

Former journalist who has now turned his focus on agriculture, Caleb Karuga, said conversations with both the youth, the older people and the government will stop the notion that agribusiness is a side hustle.

Wendy Farms founder Karuga, famous for his statement that ukulima sio ushamba (farming is not primitivity), said both state and non-state actors are needed to convince the youth that there is money in agriculture.

Today, the average age of a farmer is 60 years. There is a missing link of skills transfer from the aged to the youth.

Besides, the majority of Kenyan youth do not have land set aside where they can practise agriculture as their main business.

Karuga said more needs to be done so that youth do not view agribusiness as plan B when their main area of financial attention comes tumbling down, as has happened with the onset of the pandemic.

With the onset of the pandemic, as businesses shut down and the economy struggled, more youth turned their focus on agriculture. 

However, the disadvantage lies in them not taking it serious enough to focus all their energy on it, a case Karuga says is part of the problem.