The next generation of farmers in Kenya will be those born in towns.
It is well known by everyone that most farmers in Kenya are subsistence small scale farmers who do not practice farming as a business. Therefore, it would be incorrect for me to discuss here the succession of small-scale farming businesses in Kenya because, in reality, the “business” does not exist.
Unlike in countries with developed agriculture where several family generations work on the same farm, the situation in Kenya’s farming families is completely different. I can say without fear of contradiction that most youth who live in rural areas today do so due to the lack of a better alternative. And the dream of any young man born in the village is to leave his birthplace and successfully live in another place far from home, preferably in town centers. It is very common to hear people asking questions such as: “You mean so and so is still living in the same village ever since?”.
Farmer by choice or by constraint?
Remember that 80% of Kenya’s rural population are farmers. But most of
them do not do farming because they choose it, no, it’s because they found
themselves without any other alternative to earn a livelihood. This population
is always on standby to seize any opportunity that may arise for them to work away from
the farm. Most farmers hate farming, but they have to do it.
A conscious generation
that will go into farming by choice, and ready to stay on the farm for decades will be the one that will transform the way families practice farming in Kenya.
Therefore, from my
standpoint, the continuity of farming populations will keep discontinuing as
long as youth who grew up in the village continue to relocate in urban areas.
Why is this detrimental to the progress of agriculture? Because a lot of skills
and experience go to waste when people who have grown up on the farm, and the
best suited to become farmers relocate to urban areas to start new career paths
afresh. We would be far if people who grew up farming became farmers.
Rural-urban migration and vice-versa
However, things are starting to
evolve. Even as those who grew up in the village seek opportunities in towns, the
inverse is also happening. Those born in towns are looking for opportunities to invest in rural areas.
In recent years, I have noticed that the majority of the upcoming young farmers are those who were born in towns and grew up doing different things away from agriculture. The best thing about this generation of young farmers is that they are only motivated to do farming as a business. I predict that this is the generation that might change the landscape of farming in Kenya from subsistence to agribusiness, and also create longevity of family farming business because they are getting into farming with a long-term business vision.
This generation is
acquiring land or selling it based on farming business objectives while
ignoring the social/society value of land, which is great progress compared to
the old generation of farmers whose perspective towards land is more of social
than capitalistic. If this cohort gets it right, their children and the subsequent
generations will be willing to remain on the farm and carry on the family
business activities.
Therefore, I suppose you would agree with me if say that the next generation of sustainable farmers (agribusiness entrepreneurs) in Kenya will the born-in-town. Let me know what you think.
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4 Comments
That's a very nice read, you are right, another reason why they youths from towns will venture into rural agribusiness is because opportunities here in town are growing thin as time goes so desperation will also push them.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Thanks
DeleteVery true. I'm one of those who have relocated to the farm from the City
ReplyDeleteGreat
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