- Nyeri National Polytechnic has urged students to pursue agricultural courses in dairy farming, horticulture and bee production to build sustainable careers.
- Chief Principal Rachel Kimani has emphasised that the institution’s over 200 programmes are designed to make trainees market-ready and self-reliant.
Trainees at the Nyeri National Polytechnic have been urged to take advantage of the county’s agricultural potential, particularly dairy farming, horticulture and bee production, by pursuing agricultural courses that can equip them with skills to start businesses and build sustainable careers.
The call comes as the institution seeks to strengthen practical training and encourage young people to view agriculture not only as a source of employment but also as an avenue for entrepreneurship and innovation.
The Chief Principal of the institute, Rachel Kimani, emphasised that the institution aims to provide hands-on, practical training that moves beyond the classroom to align with local economic potential, helping trainees gain real-world enterprise and self-reliance skills.
“We aim to skill the youth so that by the time they leave our institution at whichever level they are going to exit, they are going to be market-ready. At the polytechnic, we have many programs that we skill our trainees in. We are training in over 200 programs,” she said.
Kimani said the training offered at the institution is intended to prepare students to respond to emerging opportunities in the labour market while also enabling them to create their own sources of income.
Ezekiel Njue, a teacher in the institution, noted the importance and strategic value of specific agricultural sectors.
“We are demanding skills in bee production because bee production is essential and very critical in agricultural production.”
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Bee production, dairy farming and horticulture remain important areas with potential to support livelihoods and contribute to the local economy. Equipping students with technical skills in these fields could also promote modern farming practices, value addition and better productivity.
Reflecting the impact of this training, one student shared their personal goal for the future.
“I’m planning to become a farmer to practice agriculture and also to teach other farmers how to do agriculture the right way.”
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The student’s ambition highlights the potential of technical training to inspire young people to pursue agriculture as a profession while sharing knowledge with other farmers.
The institution is therefore encouraging more trainees to consider agricultural courses as a pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and innovation. Stakeholders say strengthening practical agricultural skills will help prepare a new generation of skilled farmers capable of exploiting Nyeri’s agricultural potential and contributing to food security and economic growth.
By Bernard Magada
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