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Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in the Agricultural Sector in Kenya

Year 2022, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 1 - 16, 05.06.2022

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the challenges hindering Kenyan youth from participation in the agricultural sector. In this study, qualitative analysis was used as a basic research tool. Youth unemployment in Kenya is higher than the overall national unemployment rate. Kenya's economy is not creating enough jobs to increase the number of young people entering the labor market. Despite the increasing youth unemployment, the number of young people in the agricultural sector has been declining. In contrast, the service and manufacturing sectors are growing significantly but are far from creating enough jobs for Kenya's young workforce. This can have negative implications as it increases unemployment and underemployment rates in Kenya and also undermines government efforts to drive economic growth through agriculture. Therefore, the agricultural sector is critical in creating employment and raising the living standards of Kenyan youth. The agricultural sector offers excellent opportunities to employ young people and to ensure food security. However, the sector has not yet fully utilized the potential of the young workforce and remains largely unattractive to them. Young people have a negative perception of agriculture, they perceive working in the agricultural sector as a last resort, as an activity for the elderly, and they do not see farming as a profitable business, which makes the situation even worse. The paper also highlights the employment opportunities in the agricultural sector, policies, strategies, and other initiatives to help position youths at the forefront of agricultural growth and transformation to achieve sustainable food systems.

References

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  • Afande F. O., Maina W. N. & Maina, M. P. 2015.Youth engagement in agriculture in Kenya: challenges and prospects, Journal of Culture, Society and Development 7, pp. 4-19.
  • Analytics, M. (n.d.). Kenya agriculture employment | Moody's analytics. Sign In. https://www.economy.com/kenya/agriculture-employment/
  • Başaranoğlu C. & Yılmaz H. 2020. Determination of the Farming Attributes of Young Farmers and their Tendencies of Engagement in Farming: A Case study in Isparta Province. Turkish Journal of Agricultural Economics, 26 (1), 19-28. DOI: 10.24181/tarekoder.588735
  • Cynthiah P. 2020. Kenyan youth urged to embrace agribusiness. (2020, August 19). The Star. https://www.the-star.co.ke/business/2020-08-19-kenyan-youth-urged-to-embrace- agribusiness/
  • FAO 2018. Youth and agriculture: Key challenges and concrete solutions. Food & Agriculture Org.
  • FAO 2019. Challenges and opportunities in a global world. Food & Agriculture Org.
  • FAO 2020. Agricultural finance and the youth: Prospects for financial inclusion in Kenya: Rural employment - Knowledge materials – Rural finance. Food & Agriculture Org.
  • H. Plecher 2020.Kenya - youth unemployment rate 2009-2019 | Statista. (n.d.). Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/812147/youth-unemployment-rate-in-kenya/
  • Himaja N. 2020. Youth-led agricultural initiatives in Kenya during COVID-19. (n.d.). Agrilinks. https://www.agrilinks.org/post/youth-led-agricultural-initiatives-kenya- during-covid-19
  • JC U. 2019. Agriculture for all; Constraints to youth participation in Africa. Current Investigations in Agriculture and Current Research, 7(2). doi:10.32474/ciacr.2019.07.000256
  • Julia Faria 2021. Kenya: Employment by economic sector 2011-2020. (2020, October 15). Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1186971/employment-by-economic-sector- in-kenya/
  • Julia Faria 2021. Kenya: Share of employment in agriculture 2010-2020. (2020, December 16). Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1204049/employment-in-agriculture-as- a-share-of-total-employmen-in-kenya/
  • Kenya - Labor force. (n.d.). IndexMundi - Country Facts. https://www.indexmundi.com/facts/kenya/labor-force
  • Kenya labour force participation rate. (2018, 1). Global Economic Data, Indicators, Charts & Forecasts | CEIC. https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/kenya/labour-force- participation-rate
  • Kenya population 2020. (n.d.). Worldometer - real time world statistics. https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/kenya-population/
  • Kontogeorgos A., Tselempis D. & Karipidis P. 2014. Young Farmers' Perceived Service Quality of the Greek Ministry of Agriculture: A SERVQUAL Approach, Agricultural Economics Review, Greek Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12. DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.253676
  • Maurice S. et al. 2019. Strategies of integrating public participation governance for sustainable development in Kenya. Public Policy and Administration Research. doi:10.7176/ppar/9-7-06
  • Mibey M. C. 2015. Factors influencing youth involvement in agribusiness projects in Bomet Central Sub-county, Kenya, Unpublished project, University of Nairobi
  • Muhoma R. 2014. Factors influencing youth employment through involvement in the milk value chain: a case of Rongai/Nakuru sub- counties, in Nakuru county Kenya. Unpublished Master of Arts Project, University of Nairobi.
  • Ndungu A. G. 2016. A Kenyan youth perspective on climate change. Development, 59(3-4), 266-269. doi:10.1057/s41301-017-0116-7
  • Njeru L. & Gichimu B. 2014. Influence of Access to Land And Finances on Kenyan Youth Participation in Agriculture: A Review. 2. 1-8.
  • Njeru L. K. 2017. Youth in agriculture; Perceptions and challenges for enhanced participation in Kajiado north Sub-County, Kenya. Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 7(8), 203-209. doi:10.15580/gjas.2017.8.100117141
  • OECD. 2018. The future of rural youth in developing countries tapping the potential of local value chains: Tapping the potential of local value chains. OECD Publishing.
  • Piselli D., Loni S. S., Colyard K. & Nordquist S. 2019. The role of youth in achieving the SDGs: Supporting youth-led solutions for sustainable food systems. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Through Sustainable Food Systems, 229-245. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-23969-5_13
  • Rose K. N. & Nyanchama M. 2019. Evaluation of Microfinance indicators in actualizing vision 2030 in the agricultural sector, Kenya. Research Journal of Finance and Accounting. doi:10.7176/rjfa/10-4-15
  • Sambo W. 2016. Factors affecting youth entrepreneurship development in Kibera district, Kenya. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 14(3), 154-161. doi:10.21511/ppm.14(3-1).2016.02
  • Schmidt E. & Woldeyes F. B. 2019. Rural youth and employment in Ethiopia. Youth and Jobs in Rural Africa, 109-136. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198848059.003.0005
  • Sitawa M., Mugasia E. & Songoro A. 2016. Challenges faced by youth engaging in agriculture. A study of Peri-urban Kiambu in Kenya. GRIN Verlag.
  • United Nations. 2020. World youth report: Youth social entrepreneurship and the 2030 agenda.
  • Wahome A. & Njiraini A. 2021. Challenges of the agribusiness sector in Kenya and opportunities from smart specialisation policies. Entrepreneurship, Technology Commercialisation, and Innovation Policy in Africa, 137-152. doi:10.1007/978-3-030- 58240-1_6
  • World Bank. 2020. Youth employment programs in Ghana: Options for effective policy making and implementation. International Development in F.
  • Wossen T. & Ayele S. 2018. Ethiopia’s agricultural transformation: Agribusiness’ contribution to reducing youth unemployment. IDS Bulletin, 49(5). doi:10.19088/1968- 2018.171
  • Yami M., Feleke S., Abdoulaye T., Alene A., Bamba Z. & Manyong V. 2019. African rural youth engagement in agribusiness: Achievements, limitations, and lessons. Sustainability, 11(1), 185. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010185
Year 2022, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 1 - 16, 05.06.2022

Abstract

References

  • Abwao M. 2014. Youths and agribusiness development in Kenya. Studia Mundi - Economica, 1. doi:10.18531/studia.mundi.2014.01.01.79-86
  • Afande F. O., Maina W. N. & Maina, M. P. 2015.Youth engagement in agriculture in Kenya: challenges and prospects, Journal of Culture, Society and Development 7, pp. 4-19.
  • Analytics, M. (n.d.). Kenya agriculture employment | Moody's analytics. Sign In. https://www.economy.com/kenya/agriculture-employment/
  • Başaranoğlu C. & Yılmaz H. 2020. Determination of the Farming Attributes of Young Farmers and their Tendencies of Engagement in Farming: A Case study in Isparta Province. Turkish Journal of Agricultural Economics, 26 (1), 19-28. DOI: 10.24181/tarekoder.588735
  • Cynthiah P. 2020. Kenyan youth urged to embrace agribusiness. (2020, August 19). The Star. https://www.the-star.co.ke/business/2020-08-19-kenyan-youth-urged-to-embrace- agribusiness/
  • FAO 2018. Youth and agriculture: Key challenges and concrete solutions. Food & Agriculture Org.
  • FAO 2019. Challenges and opportunities in a global world. Food & Agriculture Org.
  • FAO 2020. Agricultural finance and the youth: Prospects for financial inclusion in Kenya: Rural employment - Knowledge materials – Rural finance. Food & Agriculture Org.
  • H. Plecher 2020.Kenya - youth unemployment rate 2009-2019 | Statista. (n.d.). Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/812147/youth-unemployment-rate-in-kenya/
  • Himaja N. 2020. Youth-led agricultural initiatives in Kenya during COVID-19. (n.d.). Agrilinks. https://www.agrilinks.org/post/youth-led-agricultural-initiatives-kenya- during-covid-19
  • JC U. 2019. Agriculture for all; Constraints to youth participation in Africa. Current Investigations in Agriculture and Current Research, 7(2). doi:10.32474/ciacr.2019.07.000256
  • Julia Faria 2021. Kenya: Employment by economic sector 2011-2020. (2020, October 15). Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1186971/employment-by-economic-sector- in-kenya/
  • Julia Faria 2021. Kenya: Share of employment in agriculture 2010-2020. (2020, December 16). Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1204049/employment-in-agriculture-as- a-share-of-total-employmen-in-kenya/
  • Kenya - Labor force. (n.d.). IndexMundi - Country Facts. https://www.indexmundi.com/facts/kenya/labor-force
  • Kenya labour force participation rate. (2018, 1). Global Economic Data, Indicators, Charts & Forecasts | CEIC. https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/kenya/labour-force- participation-rate
  • Kenya population 2020. (n.d.). Worldometer - real time world statistics. https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/kenya-population/
  • Kontogeorgos A., Tselempis D. & Karipidis P. 2014. Young Farmers' Perceived Service Quality of the Greek Ministry of Agriculture: A SERVQUAL Approach, Agricultural Economics Review, Greek Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12. DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.253676
  • Maurice S. et al. 2019. Strategies of integrating public participation governance for sustainable development in Kenya. Public Policy and Administration Research. doi:10.7176/ppar/9-7-06
  • Mibey M. C. 2015. Factors influencing youth involvement in agribusiness projects in Bomet Central Sub-county, Kenya, Unpublished project, University of Nairobi
  • Muhoma R. 2014. Factors influencing youth employment through involvement in the milk value chain: a case of Rongai/Nakuru sub- counties, in Nakuru county Kenya. Unpublished Master of Arts Project, University of Nairobi.
  • Ndungu A. G. 2016. A Kenyan youth perspective on climate change. Development, 59(3-4), 266-269. doi:10.1057/s41301-017-0116-7
  • Njeru L. & Gichimu B. 2014. Influence of Access to Land And Finances on Kenyan Youth Participation in Agriculture: A Review. 2. 1-8.
  • Njeru L. K. 2017. Youth in agriculture; Perceptions and challenges for enhanced participation in Kajiado north Sub-County, Kenya. Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 7(8), 203-209. doi:10.15580/gjas.2017.8.100117141
  • OECD. 2018. The future of rural youth in developing countries tapping the potential of local value chains: Tapping the potential of local value chains. OECD Publishing.
  • Piselli D., Loni S. S., Colyard K. & Nordquist S. 2019. The role of youth in achieving the SDGs: Supporting youth-led solutions for sustainable food systems. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Through Sustainable Food Systems, 229-245. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-23969-5_13
  • Rose K. N. & Nyanchama M. 2019. Evaluation of Microfinance indicators in actualizing vision 2030 in the agricultural sector, Kenya. Research Journal of Finance and Accounting. doi:10.7176/rjfa/10-4-15
  • Sambo W. 2016. Factors affecting youth entrepreneurship development in Kibera district, Kenya. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 14(3), 154-161. doi:10.21511/ppm.14(3-1).2016.02
  • Schmidt E. & Woldeyes F. B. 2019. Rural youth and employment in Ethiopia. Youth and Jobs in Rural Africa, 109-136. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198848059.003.0005
  • Sitawa M., Mugasia E. & Songoro A. 2016. Challenges faced by youth engaging in agriculture. A study of Peri-urban Kiambu in Kenya. GRIN Verlag.
  • United Nations. 2020. World youth report: Youth social entrepreneurship and the 2030 agenda.
  • Wahome A. & Njiraini A. 2021. Challenges of the agribusiness sector in Kenya and opportunities from smart specialisation policies. Entrepreneurship, Technology Commercialisation, and Innovation Policy in Africa, 137-152. doi:10.1007/978-3-030- 58240-1_6
  • World Bank. 2020. Youth employment programs in Ghana: Options for effective policy making and implementation. International Development in F.
  • Wossen T. & Ayele S. 2018. Ethiopia’s agricultural transformation: Agribusiness’ contribution to reducing youth unemployment. IDS Bulletin, 49(5). doi:10.19088/1968- 2018.171
  • Yami M., Feleke S., Abdoulaye T., Alene A., Bamba Z. & Manyong V. 2019. African rural youth engagement in agribusiness: Achievements, limitations, and lessons. Sustainability, 11(1), 185. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010185
There are 34 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Agricultural Engineering
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Benson Njora

Hasan Yılmaz 0000-0002-0487-8449

Publication Date June 5, 2022
Published in Issue Year 2022 Volume: 6 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Njora, B., & Yılmaz, H. (2022). Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in the Agricultural Sector in Kenya. Eurasian Journal of Agricultural Research, 6(1), 1-16.
AMA Njora B, Yılmaz H. Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in the Agricultural Sector in Kenya. EJAR. June 2022;6(1):1-16.
Chicago Njora, Benson, and Hasan Yılmaz. “Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in the Agricultural Sector in Kenya”. Eurasian Journal of Agricultural Research 6, no. 1 (June 2022): 1-16.
EndNote Njora B, Yılmaz H (June 1, 2022) Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in the Agricultural Sector in Kenya. Eurasian Journal of Agricultural Research 6 1 1–16.
IEEE B. Njora and H. Yılmaz, “Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in the Agricultural Sector in Kenya”, EJAR, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 1–16, 2022.
ISNAD Njora, Benson - Yılmaz, Hasan. “Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in the Agricultural Sector in Kenya”. Eurasian Journal of Agricultural Research 6/1 (June 2022), 1-16.
JAMA Njora B, Yılmaz H. Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in the Agricultural Sector in Kenya. EJAR. 2022;6:1–16.
MLA Njora, Benson and Hasan Yılmaz. “Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in the Agricultural Sector in Kenya”. Eurasian Journal of Agricultural Research, vol. 6, no. 1, 2022, pp. 1-16.
Vancouver Njora B, Yılmaz H. Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in the Agricultural Sector in Kenya. EJAR. 2022;6(1):1-16.
Eurasian Journal of Agricultural Research (EJAR)   ISSN: 2636-8226   Web: https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ejar   e-mail: agriculturalresearchjournal@gmail.com