Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe made the proposal during the 49th Session of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), arguing that Kenya’s youthful population should be viewed as an asset rather than a burden.

“Kenya is fortunate to have a strong youth population dividend. For too long, we have viewed our young people as a challenge. But youth is not a problem to manage; youth is an opportunity to unlock and agriculture is where that opportunity lies,” Kagwe said. 

He proposed structured six-month agricultural internship exchange programmes between Kenya and willing partner nations experiencing demographic decline, including the United Kingdom and other European countries. 

Under the framework, Kenyan agricultural students would gain hands-on experience in advanced mechanisation, climate-smart agriculture, value addition and agribusiness systems abroad before returning home to support commercial farming initiatives.

Kagwe said some of the interns could also be competitively absorbed into host-country labour markets where workforce shortages exist. 

During a bilateral meeting with a UK delegation led by Ruth Davis, alongside UK Ambassador to Italy and Permanent Representative to the UN Agencies in Rome Evelyn Ashton, the demographic challenge facing the UK was acknowledged.

The UK side indicated that with its population ageing, structured exchange programmes with Kenya are timely and mutually beneficial, and expressed willingness to scale up collaboration. 

The CS said Kenya is shifting agriculture from subsistence farming associated with ageing farmers to a commercially driven sector powered by young agripreneurs.

Through market-oriented training in agricultural colleges, global benchmarking, the establishment of a Youth Hub within the Ministry, and the leasing of idle public land for productive use, the government aims to align youth empowerment with land commercialisation.

“The shift is simple. Produce not just for subsistence, but for markets. Add value. Increase productivity per acre. Strengthen farmer incomes,” Kagwe stated.

The delegation, which included Principal Secretary for Livestock Development Jonathan Mueke and the Principal Secretary for Water, said agriculture, water, livestock and youth empowerment must work together to enhance food security and economic stability.