First Lady Rachel Ruto urges young people to take up smart agriculture

First Lady Rachel Ruto has encouraged young people should be encouraged to actively participate in smart agriculture, saying the surge in innovation is set to ensure food security in the country.

Mrs Ruto made the remarks during the official opening of the Kantaria Agricultural Technology and Innovation Centre at the University of Nairobi’s Upper Kabete campus on Thursday.

“The hub, anchored here at the University, will drive research and innovation. When these ideas are taught at technical colleges, Ministry of Agriculture centres, and community platforms, they will reach farmers, schools, and local markets,” she said.

Located at the University of Nairobi and supported by Elgon Kenya, the innovation centre will be a place where ideas meet action, empowering young people to create solutions for a sustainable agriculture.

She said President William Ruto believes that equipping farmers with the best tools, knowledge, and technology will not only secure good harvests, but also the nation’s future.

The government is committed to fostering enabling policies and programmes that support policy, investment in infrastructure, and affordable credit to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture.

Mrs Ruto said agriculture  is a crucial sector that ensures adequate food, manufacturing and agro-processing.

The First lady said the Kantaria innovation centre will open new pathways for increased production and productivity, entrepreneurship and shared prosperity.

“This hub will be a centre where knowledge meets the soil, where farmers test solutions, and where youth and women are empowered to turn ideas into lucrative ventures,” she said.

The centre will offer training, internships, and incubation programmes to students of agriculture.

Mrs Ruto pointed out that her office will partner with the innovation centre to showcase novel, sustainable, and climate-smart kitchen gardening technologies.

“This will complement the MaMa Kitchen Garden Programme, which I launched last May at the Koibatek Agricultural Training Centre in Baringo County,” she noted.

Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya said the government was creating an enabling environment for young in agriculture.

“We have a government whose ideas are not only conceptualised in boardrooms, but also on the ground,” he said.

He urged young people to shun leaders using them to destroy their future through incitement to violence, hatred and division.

“The growth of any nation rests on food security, including Kenya’s. Count on our support in taking agricultural innovation to the next level,” he said.

Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh said there was a need to create an enabling environment for young people in agriculture.

Technical, Vocational Education and Training Principal Secretary Esther Muoria said the hub connects young farmers, student innovators and researchers to industry in an effort to drive Kenya’s agricultural transformation.

Elgon Kenya Ltd MD Vimal Kantaria said the company’s sponsorship is aimed at producing innovators with both theoretical and practical knowledge.

Kantaria said the graduates are trained to provide solutions to the challenges that face the agricultural sector.

He pointed out that many graduates in Kenya require practical knowledge through attractive agricultural practices.

University of Nairobi  Council Chairman Chacha Nyaigoti Chacha encouraged investors and partners to work with the university.

He said the university has resources to transform and revolutionise modern agricultural practices across the country.