According
to the 2009 Kenya population and housing census, the total Kenyan population is
38 million of which the youth (age between 18–35years) account for about 30%.
The youth consists of 51.7% females and 48.3 % males (KNBS, 2010). However,
despite agriculture being the mainstay of Kenyan population, the youthful
population seldom benefits and is mostly defined by rampant unemployment leading
to idleness, drugs and substance abuse and other criminal activities. The rate
of unemployment for youth is higher than of other age groups in Kenya. Not
because they don't have the motivation, the ambition or the energy: the real
barriers facing unemployed young people are inexperience, limited access to resources, lack of specific
skills, formal training targeting white colour jobs and lack of supportive structures. But that cycle can be broken with multi-stakeholders
approach that incorporates the government, private sector and development
partners through the use of modern farming technologies.
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| Raised bed irrigation system and greenhouse farming in Maara Sub county, Tharaka Nithi County of Kenya |
