Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions have been challenged to embrace innovation and technology-driven approaches in agriculture to better equip learners for a rapidly evolving job market.
TVET Principal Secretary Esther Muoria said government research has revealed vast employment opportunities for skilled youth both locally and internationally, underscoring the need to align training with industry demands.
“There is a lot of employment for our youth, both nationally and internationally, and therefore, we have to put our best foot forward to ensure that our youth have the requisite skills to be able to work in the industry,” said Dr Muoria.
Speaking in Bomet, she pointed to ongoing programmes such as the Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA), supported by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and the German government, noting that such initiatives are helping equip young people with modern agricultural skills at polytechnics.
Dr Muoria called for a transition from traditional farming practices to mechanised and digital systems, saying the shift is key to transforming the agriculture sector and making it more attractive to young people.
“We need to come up with innovative ways of performing tasks such as milking our cows instead of the traditional way of using our hands because these new ways will ensure our youth are in demand nationally and abroad,” she said.
She added that integrating technology into agricultural training will not only boost productivity but also reduce the labour-intensive nature of farming, making it more efficient and sustainable.
PS Muoria, who was accompanied by TVET officials, reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that young people acquire relevant, market-driven skills that match both local and global labour market needs.
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“Our focus is to ensure that TVET institutions produce graduates who are ready for the job market and can compete globally,” she said.
By Kimutai Langat
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