The Rise of Kenya’s Youth in Sustainable Agriculture: Breaking Barriers, Building a Future

KILIMOKWANZA.ORG TEAM

A quiet yet powerful transformation is unfolding in the heart of Kenya’s rural landscape. Young farmers across counties from Nyandarua to Kisumu are defying outdated agricultural norms and embracing sustainable practices to secure their livelihoods and protect the environment. A landmark study by Dr. Ann Mugure Mureithi, published in the Journal of Agriculture (June 2023), provides critical insights into how Kenya’s rural youth perceive sustainable agriculture, the systemic challenges, and the untapped opportunities that could redefine the sector.

Sustainability: The Future of Kenyan Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture is no longer an option—it is a necessity. Like much of Sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya is grappling with soil degradation, erratic weather patterns, and rapid population growth, all of which threaten food security. The agricultural sector employs over 60% of the workforce and contributes 33% to the national GDP, making it the backbone of the economy. With global food demand expected to increase by 70% by 2050, young farmers increasingly turn to climate-smart agriculture, organic farming, conservation tillage, and precision agriculture. However, entrenched barriers, including lack of access to land, financing, and training, risk stifling their potential before it can be fully realized.

Youth Perceptions: A Changing Attitude Towards Farming

For years, agriculture was seen as a profession of last resort—one associated with poverty, backbreaking labor, and limited prospects for financial growth. That perception is now changing. Dr. Mureithi’s study highlights a significant shift, with many young Kenyans viewing agriculture as a viable and potentially lucrative career—if supported by modern technology and financial resources. Increasingly, young farmers are eager to integrate organic farming to reduce reliance on synthetic inputs, adopt agroforestry to improve soil conservation, implement drip irrigation to combat water scarcity, and leverage digital tools to enhance market access. This new generation sees sustainability as an environmental necessity and a smart economic strategy.

Barriers to Adoption: The Challenges Facing Rural Youth

Despite this optimism, young farmers in Kenya face formidable obstacles that prevent them from fully embracing sustainable agricultural practices.

One of the most pressing issues is land ownership. Over 80% of Kenya’s agricultural land is controlled by individuals over 50, forcing young farmers to rely on family plots where decision-making power remains in the hands of elders. Traditional inheritance laws further exclude young women from land ownership, limiting their ability to engage in long-term sustainable farming investments. Without land security, youth remain trapped in subsistence farming rather than being able to scale innovative agricultural enterprises.

Financial constraints represent another major hurdle. Sustainable agriculture requires investment in high-quality seeds, organic inputs, irrigation systems, and modern technology. However, 75% of young farmers lack access to formal credit due to a lack of collateral and the perception that agriculture is a high-risk sector. Many turn to informal lenders with exorbitant interest rates, making it difficult to break out of cycles of poverty and reinvest in sustainability.

Knowledge gaps further widen the divide between aspiration and implementation. Only 23% of rural youth have received any formal agricultural training, and outdated extension services fail to deliver knowledge on sustainable methods. Without proper education on sustainable practices, many young farmers continue using inefficient and environmentally harmful techniques that lead to low productivity, soil degradation, and increased vulnerability to climate change.

Market access remains a major challenge. Even when young farmers succeed in adopting sustainable practices, they struggle to find profitable markets. Middlemen exploit small-scale farmers by purchasing their produce at low prices and reselling at high margins. Certification requirements for organic and eco-friendly products further limit access to premium export markets. The inability to secure fair prices discourages many youth from investing in sustainability, forcing them to revert to conventional, short-term agricultural methods that often deplete soil health.

The Role of Technology: Bridging Gaps and Driving Innovation

While these challenges persist, technology is emerging as a powerful tool in breaking down barriers and transforming the agricultural landscape for young farmers.

Mobile applications and digital platforms are revolutionizing market access, training, and financial inclusion. Platforms like M-Farm and Twiga Foods connect farmers directly to buyers, eliminating the need for exploitative middlemen. iCow and Digifarm provide on-demand agricultural training, weather alerts, and advisory services, equipping young farmers with the knowledge they need to succeed.

Access to affordable mechanization is also improving through innovations like Hello Tractor, which enables farmers to rent tractors and machinery as needed, reducing the labor burden and increasing efficiency.

On the financial front, digital payment systems and microfinance solutions are making credit more accessible. M-Pesa-powered microloans are allowing young farmers to secure small-scale funding for sustainable farming projects, while crowdfunding platforms like WeFarm help them raise capital from investors who support eco-friendly agriculture. By integrating digital solutions, young farmers are overcoming traditional barriers and reshaping the future of Kenyan agriculture.

Gender and Sustainable Agriculture: A Call for Inclusivity

The study also highlights a persistent gender gap in the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. Young women in rural areas face disproportionate challenges, including limited access to land, financial resources, and training opportunities.

Despite these obstacles, women play a crucial role in Kenya’s agricultural sector, particularly in dairy, poultry, and horticulture. If provided with the right resources, they could be at the forefront of sustainable agricultural transformation.

To bridge this gap, policy reforms that promote land rights for women, gender-specific credit schemes, and mentorship programs are urgently needed. Empowering young female farmers is not just a matter of equality—it is a necessity for ensuring food security and sustainable development.

The Way Forward: Recommendations for Stakeholders

Dr. Mureithi’s research outlines clear and actionable steps for policymakers, financial institutions, and agricultural organizations to support rural youth in sustainable agriculture.

1. Land Reforms – Implement policies that allow young farmers to access land through lease-to-own programs and shared farming agreements.
2. Financial Solutions – Expand youth-specific agricultural loans, grants, and subsidies to make sustainability more accessible.
3. Education and Training – Integrate sustainable agricultural practices into school curriculums and modernize extension services to equip young farmers with practical skills.
4. Market Linkages – Strengthen youth-led cooperatives and direct farmer-to-market networks to eliminate middlemen and ensure fair pricing.
5. Technology Investment – Leverage Kenya’s strong mobile penetration by leveraging digital platforms that connect farmers to knowledge, finance, and buyers.

Kenya’s Youth Hold the Future of Agriculture

The future of Kenya’s agriculture depends on the energy, innovation, and resilience of its youth. Given the right tools, knowledge, and financial support, young farmers have the potential to transform the sector into a global model of sustainability.

The question is no longer whether youth can lead this change—it is whether stakeholders are ready to invest in their potential.

The time to act is now.