Maurice Oloo tends to his sukuma wiki plantation on February 12, 2020. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]
Nakuru County has partnered with the Israeli government to train university graduates on the latest technology in food production.
The county will support the graduates in the 13 months of training in a bid to boost farming within Nakuru.
According to Deputy Governor Eric Korir, training would target the whole food chain and is part of the county’s plan to empower youth.
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Dr Korir was addressing the press after handing over assorted equipment to youth in South Lake Naivasha on Saturday.
The number of youth to undergo the training in Israel is yet to be identified.
He noted that Nakuru was one of the food baskets in the county with a high potential of producing more farm produce on the vast parcels of land.
“We are working with the Israel government to train our university graduates on the latest technology in food production,” he said.
Korir noted that the county had embarked on the construction of major crop storage facilities to support farmers.
“We have already put up storage facilities in Mauche and Marishoni. Plans are underway to construct another in Mau Narok as one way of reducing post-harvest losses,” he said.
Korir said that the county assembly had already enacted into law the youth enterprise fund to support youth.
Under the fund, the youth will get loans with an interest rate capped at three per cent to start businesses.
Korir said that the National Youth Fund had stringent conditions that made it near impossible for youths to get funding.
“The biggest challenge that youths face is lack of capital. The executive and the county assembly in Nakuru has moved in to resolve this through the fund,” he said.
Chief Officer in charge of Sport and Social Services William Migwi said that the county had already engaged youth in the supply of grafted avocado seedlings.
Dr Migwi challenged the youths to shift their mindsets, noting that the informal sector was currently the major source of employment.
“The county has used Sh73 million this year for buying assorted items that will be used to empower the youth so that they can be self-reliant,” he said.
Jackson Obare from CIV Forum challenged the youth to be involved in decision-making for a sustainable change.
