Yara East Africa has launched a young farmers experiential exchange programme between Kenya and Norway.
The initiative dubbed Shujaa Knowledge Exchange Program, aims at empowering young farmers in Kenya and fostering mutual learning between Kenyan and Norwegian agricultural enthusiasts.
Three youth farmers from Kenya, namely Janet Cheruto, Rodgers Kirwa, and Ronald Diang’a, popularly known as Yara’s Shujaa (digital champions), are set for a unique experiential tour of Norway.
This initiative, organized by Yara East Africa, seeks to provide them with insights into modern farming techniques and practices.
The program is designed for Kenyan farmers to benchmark best practices, focusing on the proper use of quality farm inputs to enhance productivity.
Simultaneously, their Norwegian counterparts will have the opportunity to learn from the Kenyan perspective when they visit the country.
William Ngeno, Yara East Africa’s Country Manager (Kenya & Uganda), emphasized the importance of continuous upskilling and reskilling of farmers.
He stated, “We are committed to consistently building the capacity of farmers to enhance efficiency and meet the growing market demand for food. Our ambition is to contribute to a Nature-Positive Food future by introducing new technologies and best practices in soil Health and water use efficiency.”
During the visit, the Shujaa farmers will delve into Yara's initiatives to reduce emissions and enhance productivity at its production sites.
The program aims to foster mutually beneficial relationships among young farmers, promoting a shared learning experience.
Jannette Toroitich, a young female farmer from Uasin Gishu, expressed her excitement about being chosen for the knowledge exchange program.
She aims to inspire more women and youth to take up farming and seeks collaboration opportunities with Norwegian youth farmers.
Rodgers Kirwa, also known as Mr Agriculture, is eager to share his sustainable food production tips with his farming networks.
Ronald Diang’a, with a passion for digital and data-driven agriculture, sees this program as an opportunity to engage and rally youth towards farming through digital platforms.
The Shujaa Knowledge Exchange Program aligns with Yara's commitment to support farmers achieve prosperity through increased crop production and household incomes translating to improved livelihoods.