By Dr.Edris N.Omondi (Advocate)
Kisumu County, rich in natural resources and strategic location, is at a crucial crossroads. With a rapidly growing youth population, it’s evident that one of the most effective ways to address unemployment is through a revitalized and forward-thinking agricultural strategy. As the agricultural sector plays a pivotal role in both local and national economies, it has the potential to create jobs, enhance food security, and stimulate economic growth. However, for this potential to be realized, Kisumu must embrace a paradigm shift—one that focuses on agricultural innovation, youth engagement, and community-driven growth.
Agricultural Under the Constitution: A County Government Domain:
Agriculture is not just a national priority; it is also enshrined as a County Government domain under Kenya’s Constitution. This gives Kisumu County the legal framework to drive its own agricultural development agenda. By embracing its role and using its devolved powers, the county can take charge of funding, planning, and executing agricultural projects that are tailored to the specific needs of its communities. But this will require a deliberate and innovative approach, particularly with a focus on youth inclusion and the development of value-added agricultural products.
Success Stories: How Countries Are Providing Employment Through Agriculture
Across the globe, several countries have turned agriculture into a powerful job-creating engine, proving that this sector can be both a backbone of employment and an engine for economic growth. Countries like China, India, and Brazil have successfully used agriculture to provide millions of jobs, with a focus on technological innovation, training, and youth involvement. In India, the government’s focus on rural agricultural schemes has brought millions of young people into farming. Similarly, China’s adoption of smart farming techniques, coupled with state investment in rural development, has bolstered its agricultural industry and created vast job opportunities.
The Youth Unemployment Challenge in Kisumu:
Kisumu, while rich in natural resources, faces a growing youth unemployment crisis. According to recent statistics, over 30% of Kisumu’s youth (ages 18-35) are unemployed, with many lacking viable opportunities in the formal economy. This is exacerbated by a mismatch between the skills of young people and the demands of the labour market. Agriculture, which has traditionally employed a significant portion of the population, remains underutilized as a driver of youth employment. With an emphasis on agricultural innovation, Kisumu could break free from this cycle and offer its youth sustainable livelihoods.
Agricultural Training and Development: A Key Strategy for Empowerment:
One of the key challenges in Kisumu’s agricultural sector is the lack of effective training and access to agricultural education. Without the right skills and knowledge, the youth cannot fully engage in modern farming practices. However, Kisumu has already made strides in addressing this gap by constructing the Pap Konam Agricultural College in Seme-Sub County which will work as a constituency of Bukura Agricultural Training College in Kakamega as a step towards feeling the training and skill impartation void. However, there is a pressing need for expansion and more localized training hubs.
Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has spearheaded various initiatives to build capacity within the agricultural sector, such as the distribution of hybrid seeds and fertilizers to farmers in rice-growing areas, the promotion of cotton farming, and the establishment of flagship projects in Mboha Valley and Nyamthoe. However, there is still much work to be done to reach the county’s full potential.
Increasing Funding for Agriculture: A Deliberate County Action
A key part of the solution lies in increasing local and international funding for Kisumu’s agricultural initiatives. Through strategic partnerships, Kisumu can tap into both public and private funding sources for agriculture. International agencies like the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), World Food Program (WFO), alongside global financial institutions, offer potential funding opportunities for agricultural development. At the same time, the county should prioritize and deliberately increase its agricultural budget, and look into its own source revenue streams, taxes and partnerships with local businesses to finance agricultural projects.
More importantly, Kisumu must move beyond traditional boardroom meetings and conferences and engage directly with local communities and formidable partnerships to ensure that agricultural policies and projects are aligned with the needs and realities on the ground. Farmers, local youth, and community leaders must be actively involved in decision-making processes, and develop agriculture incubation centers in partnership with bodies like KIRDI. With more community-driven action plans in place, Kisumu can address issues like data on crop production, marketing of products, and the creation of viable local markets.
Employment Potential: Agriculture Can Create Over 100,000 Jobs
If properly managed and restructured, Kisumu’s agricultural sector has the potential to create over 100,000 jobs for youth within the next two to three years. Agriculture offers various opportunities for employment, from crop farming, livestock, fisheries, and dairy farming to value chain development through processing, packaging, and distribution. In particular, horticulture, poultry farming, and the dairy value chain hold immense promise for creating sustainable job opportunities for young people.
The Need for Effective Community Involvement:
The biggest hindrance to Kisumu’s agricultural growth lies in the lack of community involvement. While numerous programs exist, the bottom-up approach is often overlooked. Local farmers and youth must be empowered through Community Integrated Action Plans (CIAPs), where they identify, priorities and take ownership of projects. The Climate Smart Agriculture initiatives in Kisumu have already proven successful in fostering participation, and this model should be scaled up throughout the county.
Programs like the Kenya Climate-Smart Agricultural Project (KCSAP), which focuses on cassava, sorghum, and poultry, should be emulated countywide. This approach not only promotes sustainable agricultural practices but also builds resilience to climate change, ensuring long-term success.
The Role of Technology: Data and the Future of Agriculture
To ensure sustained agricultural growth, Kisumu must prioritize data-driven agriculture. With the recent pulling down of the Famine Early Warning System (FEWS NET) by USAID, Kisumu has a unique opportunity to fill the gap by developing local data companies. Such a local company that can offer partnership is Afri Data,a data company dedicated into data research. Famine early warning systems can be modernized through Internet of Things (IoT) technology, enabling farmers to receive critical information about weather patterns, crop pests, and market access.
Moving from Aid to Trade:
Kisumu’s agriculture sector should move from a dependence on foreign aid to a model of trade and self-reliance. This paradigm shift is critical, especially in light of shifting international relations and changing foreign policy, such as Trump’s administration’s impact on USAID funding. By shifting the focus to trade, Kisumu can leverage its natural resources, develop export markets, and position itself as a leader in food production and export.
Conclusion: A New Vision for Kisumu
Kisumu is blessed with diverse agricultural resources, from its fertile soil to its favourable climate for various crops. The county must rise above the poverty mentality that often hampers progress and focus on empowering its youth through agriculture-based job creation. By fostering community involvement, increasing investments, and leveraging technology, Kisumu can create a thriving agricultural economy that benefits both the youth and the entire region.
Under Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, Kisumu’s agricultural strategy is moving in the right direction, but the county must remain deliberate and bold in its actions to unlock the full potential of its agricultural sector. The future of Kisumu lies in its ability to embrace a paradigm shift in agriculture, one that provides sustainable employment for its youth and leads the way to economic prosperity.
