A soybean farmer from Khamulati Farmer Business School inspecting her crop

In Kenya, young people account for nearly 75 per cent of the population, with unemployment being a massive problem. However, agriculture has emerged as a solution to this problem by providing job opportunities to youth in various sectors.

Eugene Wafula, the chairperson of Kibingei Machinery Ring in Kimilili sub-county, Bungoma County, is a young farmer who has found success in cultivating soybeans. Before joining the Machinery Ring Model (MR), Eugene believed that agriculture was only for older generations. But after learning about the MR model and using it to grow soybeans, he has changed his perception.

The Machinery Ring Model is an initiative supported by GIZ that aims to consolidate land for maize-growing smallholders to improve mechanization efficiency. MR promotes conservation agriculture practices in maize production, which is the primary focus of the initiative. FAO recognized MR as a possible tool to generate income and create job opportunities for youth through the soybean value chain in Bungoma County.

FAO, through the MasterCard Foundation-funded Livestock Feeds Commercialization Project (LFCP) introduced Soybean as a short rain season rotational crop in Kimilili, Tongaren, Webuye West, and Webuye East sub-counties. FAO partnered with the Machinery Ring CBOs to promote soybean as rotation crop and supported the local youth groups to build their capacity on commercial production of production. Using the Farmers Business Schools (FBS) approach, farmers learn through practical experience through the already established 47 schools.

In Bungoma, the project operates in Kimilili Sub- County and has partnered with Machinery Ring CBO to promote soya beans as rotation crop mainly for the short rains season. FAO has supported the youth group to build their capacity on the agribusiness of Soya bean production. Using the Farmers Business schools (FBS) approach, farmers learn through practical experience through the already established 47 schools supported by 33 facilitators.

Maize is the main crop grown during the long rainy season from March to July. However, the land is mostly left fallow during the short rains that occur from September to December. FAO introduced soybean to the MRs as a good rotational crop for planting in the short rains period. Planting leguminous plants such as Soybeans promotes conservation agricultural practices, adding to soil fertility as it is a nitrogen-fixing crop.

In November 2022, Wafula and four other young people from the four CBOs received training from FAO on new technologies of farming Soya beans. According to Wafula, the training has transformed their lives.

Bungoma County relies heavily on farming maize, beans, Irish potatoes, and groundnuts. Due to the unpredictability of the rain, some farmers have resorted to irrigation to grow vegetables. Research indicates that the average yield for soybeans per hectare is between 1.5 to 2.5 metric tons.

Initially, soybean farming was not doing very doing well, so FAO opted to continue training them on new farming techniques like minimum tillage. This increased their yield and created more job opportunities for the youth. “I used to view farming as a dirty business with no returns, but from the benefits of the training, I will never look back,” said Wafula during an interview.

About the Livestock Feeds Commercialization Project (LFCP)

Funded by The Mastercard Foundation, the Livestock Feeds Commercialization Project’s overall objective is to promote the sustainable development of the feeds subsector through development and promotion of business models that increase productivity, value addition, market access, utilization, and income in the feed industry. The interventions are focused on adaptation and resilience and are underpinned by advocating for enabling and aligned sector policies that lower entry barriers and stimulate public and private investments.

The LFCP project has also supported the farmers in acquiring two tractors for Kimilili and Naitiri MRs. The tractors are managed by a team of youth entrepreneurs who are charged with ensuring the tractors make enough revenues for the youth. 

To create employment opportunities for the youths, FAO is supporting the MR to engage youth as service providers of the various agriculture technologies for the farmers affiliated to the MR.

“Our youths have been trained on land preparation, spraying, soil testing, agrochemicals products, milling and feed formulation,” says Wafula.

“In addition, FAO is supporting the youth to establish these enterprises as an integral part of the MR, which will act as a hub for market and inputs for the members enabling the youth entrepreneurs get ‘captive’ market to start their enterprises.’’

For more information contact:

Pauline Akolo

Communication Specialist

Email: [email protected]