The government plans to unveil 20,000 agripreneurs during the Madaraka Day celebration as part of Kenya Kwanza’s comprehensive agenda to transform agriculture.
The new model, which is a paradigm shift from the current production-based extension services, is market-driven with farmers producing based on the market demand.
This means instead of farmers looking for the market after production, they will now get prior information on what the market needs.
Agriculture is the theme of this year’s Madaraka fete to be held in Bungoma County, and the launch of the agripreneurs is critical as they will be the champions of agricultural reforms under the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
On May 30, 2,500 agripreneurs attended a training at the Kibabii University to apprise them of their roles before they were officially unveiled by President William Ruto on Madaraka Day.
The 20,000 who will be flagged off will serve in 36 counties in the first phase of the project’s rollout.
The agripreneurs will work with farmers every step of the way to optimise production, with each one of them being given key performance indicators. And while farmer training will continue, the new model emphasizes practical activities on the farms.
The agripreneurs will comprise three categories- General practitioners, animal health and genetics, and fodder agripreneurs.
One agripreneur will be allocated 350 farmers, and their services will be mainly digital-based.
They will, therefore, be equipped with the necessary digital tools to enable them effectively perform their roles effectively.
Registration of farmers on a digital platform will enable the agripreneurs to provide farmer-specific interventions.
The agripreneurs will not be national or county employees but will rather be entrepreneurs who can tap opportunities that include the sale of inputs, aggregation services, value addition, veterinary services, as well as breeding and brooding
Beginning July 1, the group will be trained in phases starting with boot camps, followed by incubation and finally the commercialisation stage.
All these phases are aimed at ensuring that the agripreneurs are equipped with the prerequisite skills to enable them to impart appropriate knowledge to farmers engaged in various value chains.
The agripreneur model will ideally work under cooperatives which will pay them commission for their services.
The agriprenuers, who will possess a degree, diploma and certificate in agriculture-related fields, will be key in collecting crucial farming data that will be used to provide tailor-made solutions to farmers
The agriprenuer will perform diverse roles including acting as a link between farmers and the market.
They will also provide services such as financial literacy, climate-smart advisory services, mechanisation as well as access to farm inputs and credit services and.
They will also be key players at the aggregation centres as they will be required to provide mentorship and facilitate value addition among farmers.