Siaya County Youth in Agribusiness Strategy 2022 - 2027
The Department of Agriculture is pleased to roll out The Siaya County Youth Agribusiness strategy (SYAS, 2020). This strategy is a demonstration of the Department`s commitment to spearhead a multi- stakeholder approach to address the challenge of youth unemployment and income generation, by offering opportunities for youth in a vibrant commercial oriented Agri –food sector in Siaya County. Although the Agriculture sector in Siaya County offers 61% of employment opportunities, it still operates at a subsistence, low technology adoption and low investment level leading to low productivity. The average annual per capita earning from the sector is Kenya Shillings 19,835. This is way below the Country’s poverty line of Kenya Shillings 39,024 to 71,940. This is even much lower than the global poverty index tipping line indicated at an annual per capita income of Kenya Shillings 78,445.(UNDP,2020) Low agricultural productivity hampers economic growth for a rural agriculture dependent county like Siaya. The youth are therefore not able to find decent jobs within the sector and if they do, they earn low income as casual labourers or no income at all as family labourers. Lack of employment opportunities in the sector is further compounded by low knowledge & skills and poor aptitude and practice attributes among the youth engaged in agribusiness making them unemployable. The critical skill and knowledge gaps are in the technical areas of Good Agricultural Practices, Climate Smart Agriculture and Business development. Gaps also exist on intrinsic soft skills, aptitude and practices in the areas of entrepreneurship, community of purpose and leadership. These factors, if addressed could create a youthful generation positioned to reimagine and reorient the County agriculture into a commercial viable, job creating and income earning sector. This Strategy recognizes the fact that the County`s biophysical environment is suitable for increased production and output with a potential to contribute Kenya Shillings 1.5 Trillion to the County GDP from the current 20 billion. This can be done through harnessing potentials in the land and water resources to nurture high value agricultural enterprises like cage fish farming, promotion of tomato value chain, indigenous chicken, fruit tree nurseries among others. The actions should employ a mix of value chain development and rural development approach in order to create opportunities for enterprise development, income growth and creation of decent employment for the youth. The high population of young people who have affinity for technology and innovations can contribute towards making Agriculture in the County a vibrant, modern and commercially oriented sector. It is for this reason that this strategy has been made in order to harness this youth bulge, and manage the obstacles that hinder their engagement by enhancing knowledge & skills, positive aptitude and practices in agriculture, increasing investment levels and opportunities, and positioning the youth organizations to participate both politically and economically towards increased productivity and improved income for the youth.
Siaya County Youth in Agribusiness Strategy 2022 - 2027
Dr. Elizabeth A. Odhiambo
County Executive Committee Member, Agriculture, Livestock, Food Security, Fisheries and Irrigation.