West Pokot County's youth are set to benefit from an innovative agricultural empowerment program designed to tackle unemployment and boost food security.
The Utafiti-Sera Youth Employment Creation (YEC) initiative, implemented by CABE Africa in partnership with PASGR (Partnership for African Social & Governance Research), has identified potato farming as a key value chain for youth economic empowerment in the region.
The program comes at a critical time when West Pokot faces youth unemployment challenges, with many young people struggling to find sustainable livelihoods in the county's predominantly agricultural economy.
By focusing on the potato value chain, the initiative aims to equip young farmers and agripreneurs with research-backed knowledge, practical skills, and market linkages to transform potato farming into a profitable venture.
Through a co-creation approach with youth-led micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the project seeks to bridge the gap between agricultural research and practical application.
According to CABE Africa, the evidence-based model will inform both policy decisions and on-ground programming, ensuring interventions are tailored to West Pokot's specific agricultural context and youth needs.
West Pokot joins Makueni (mango) and Kakamega (avocado) as pilot counties in this regional initiative, each focusing on their dominant cash crops.
For West Pokot's youth, this represents an opportunity to modernize potato farming practices, access new markets, and establish sustainable agribusinesses that can withstand climate challenges and market fluctuations.