Using modern farming technologies to attract youth to Agriculture

Written by Wairimu Nyambura Monday, 12 May 2014 08:44 

 

Arrow roots, long seen as traditional crop liked by the elderly among Kenyan most communities, could now turn out to save Kenyan youths from biting unemployment. 

Kenya, faced by an influx of educated youth who idle away due to lack of employment opportunities has turned to a number of initiatives to help curb this rising problem.

Among many partners that have joined the government to offer solutions to the youth include the Youth Agro Environment Initiative (a non-governmental organization based in Nairobi) which is training youth on modern farming technologies that can enable them earn a livelihood.

One of the crops that they chose for this project is the arrowroot which has traditionally been grown near water bodies due to its high water consumption. 

This requirement put off so many young farmers as majority do not live near water sources and also find it cumbersome to practice this type of farming.As such, Youth Agro Environment Initiative is now teaching farmers how to grow the arrowroots in uplands – away from the river – and still get good yields. 

Read more

http://www.entrepreneurshipafrica.com/business-resources/entrepnews/modern-farming-technologies-coined-to-attract-youth-to-agriculture.html

http://www.africasciencenews.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1197:using-modern-farming-technologies-to-attract-youth-to-agriculture&catid=49:food&Itemid=113

The Nuru experience in Kenya, from garbage dump to model farm

The Nuru experience in Kenya, from garbage dump to model farm http://vimeo.com/83680662 About this video "18 Jun 2013 | by Martha Nyambura | Civil Society - Media Talks - Original Feature Contribution by IPS and IPSTV journalist Martha Nyambura to the IPSTV Food and Media Talks panel “Will forthcoming economic boom change Africa’s rural backyard?” held at FAO, Rome, on Tuesday June 18th 2013. The clip contains Martha Nyambura’s video report “The Nuru experience, from garbage dump to model farm” and her following contribiution from Nairobi (Kenya) via Skype."