By Robert Mutasi 
The Uasin Gishu County Government, in partnership with the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), has recruited and trained 110 young agripreneurs to expand agricultural extension services and improve productivity among smallholder farmers across the county.
The youth, drawn from all 110 sub-locations in Uasin Gishu, will provide technical advisory services to farmers involved in priority value chains, including dairy farming, indigenous poultry, avocado production, potato farming and other agricultural enterprises.
County officials said the programme is designed to bridge the shortage of agricultural extension officers while creating sustainable employment opportunities for young people with agricultural training.
Speaking in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County NAVCDP Coordinator Cosmas Langat said the initiative introduces a private extension service model that brings professional agricultural support closer to farming communities.
“For a long time, extension services have not performed well because of inadequate technical staff. We have therefore developed an arrangement where trained young people provide extension services to farmers while earning an income for themselves,” Langat said.
Langat said the county aims to increase agricultural productivity and improve the quality of produce to help farmers access larger and more reliable markets.
Under the programme, each agripreneur has been assigned to a sub-location, ensuring that farmers can easily access technical advice on crop production, livestock management and modern farming technologies.
“We have 110 agripreneurs, meaning each of the county’s 110 sub-locations has one agripreneur. This brings extension services closer to farmers, making them more accessible,” he said.
He encouraged farmers to work closely with the trained youth to adopt improved farming practices that can boost yields, increase profitability and strengthen food security.
Beyond offering advisory services, the agripreneurs will operate as agribusiness entrepreneurs by generating income through commissions, service fees and market linkages.
Langat said they will earn commissions by connecting farmers with suppliers of quality farm inputs, agricultural technologies and potential buyers.
They will also provide specialised farm services, including grafting, pruning and other crop management practices, for which they will charge affordable fees.
“The model creates a win-win situation. Farmers receive professional advisory services while the agripreneurs earn an income through the services they provide and the business opportunities they create,” Langat said.
To prepare them for their new roles, the county has organised planning and capacity-building sessions focusing on service delivery, digital data collection, agribusiness management and stakeholder engagement.
The training also exposes the young entrepreneurs to different business models and helps connect them with partners across the agricultural value chain.
County officials said the programme is intended to create self-sustaining agribusiness enterprises while improving the quality of extension services available to farmers.
The agripreneurs are currently enrolled in an 11-month incubation programme, during which they receive technical mentorship and a monthly stipend of Sh15,000 to support the establishment of their businesses.
Upon completing the incubation phase, they will transition to a six-month commercialisation programme, where they are expected to generate income independently through commissions, service charges and agricultural marketing opportunities.
During this period, each agripreneur will continue receiving a monthly facilitation of Sh5,000 as they build viable and sustainable agribusiness enterprises.
The county government said the initiative aligns with its broader agenda of modernising agriculture, improving extension service delivery and empowering young people to create employment through agribusiness while supporting increased productivity among smallholder farmers.