Lilian Owembabazi, a Research Assistant at CABI, visiting some young plant doctors who, as part of the PlantwisePlus programme, help farmers diagnose their plant health problems and suggest possible solutions. The youth showcased their skills at the 29thNational Agricultural Show in Jinja, Uganda, in 2023.
Photo: CABI
Empowering youth for agricultural service provision and entrepreneurship
By Harrison Rware
Rural youth in both Kenya and Uganda frequently face high unemployment rates, despite a pressing demand for agricultural extension and advisory services. Simultaneously, smallholder farmers struggle with limited access to affordable, high-quality support in crucial areas like pest management, pruning and market linkages.
This gap often leads to low yields, poor fruit and crop quality, and missed income opportunities, trapping communities in cycles of low productivity.
The PlantwisePlus Youth Empowerment Programme led by Cabi strategically intervenes by equipping young individuals with the skills, tools, and platforms to become effective agricultural service providers – and agri-entrepreneurs. Thus partnerships with established cooperative societies also enhance the productivity and produce quality of millions of farmers – and hence rural livelihoods.
Extensive training – from pest diagnosis to financial literacy
In Kenya's Makueni County, the Makueni County Fruit Processors Cooperative Society (MCFPC) and Keitt Exporters Ltd have pioneered this integration. MCFPC recruited and linked trained youths directly to its farmer groups, while Keitt integrated already engaged youths into their service delivery chain.
These youths received extensive technical training in pruning, pest diagnosis, record keeping and market engagement, complemented by essential tools and certifications from partners like the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE).
MCFPC Manager Gertrude Waviny says: “After the youths were trained by CABI, we introduced them to our farmer groups. They began offering services like pest diagnosis, pruning and financial literacy.” And Jackline Kioko, Keitt Field Coordinator, adds: “The training helped. Now we have skilled youths who reach more farmers with quality services like spraying and grafting.”
In Uganda, the Rubanga Cooperative Society Ltd has mirrored this success. With over twelve years of youth engagement experience, the Cooperative hosted trained youth service providers, facilitating plant clinics, embedding them with cooperative extension staff and linking them to government-led digital farmer mapping initiatives.
Young people in Uganda being taught how to identify plant health issues in a workshop.
Photo: CABI
Evolved into integrated service providers
These youths have evolved into integrated service providers offering spray services, diagnostics, digital mapping and even operating agro-input dealerships. Many have formed youth councils and received crucial business modelling training.
The Ugandan Zaabta Cooperative has over 20 years of youth engagement and has mainstreamed Cabi-trained youths into its advisory systems. From an existing pool of 400 youth, 87 Plant Doctors (PDs) were selected and trained. Plant doctors are agricultural professionals who provide expert advice to farmers on diagnosing and managing plant health problems, recommending appropriate management strategies, including biological, cultural, mechanical and chemical solutions.
Nankya Prossy, Deputy Manager of Zaabta, says: “We selected youth from our existing network and trained them to use Cabi tools to support farmers. Now, they diagnose plant issues and offer correct recommendations.”
These youths serve farmers across six districts through plant clinics, mobile outreach and as input dealers and community advisors, providing season-long guidance.
Tangible results across the board
The combined impact of these initiatives has resulted in tangible results across the board. For example, with regard to expanded farmer reach and improved service quality, in both Kenya and Uganda, there has been a significant increase in farmer coverage and access to timely, high-quality advisory services.
This has led to reduced mango rejection rates and improved produce quality in Kenya. Meanwhile, in Uganda, coffee exports from Rubanga rose from 1,200 MT (90 % quality) in 2023 to 1,600 MT (94 % quality) in 2024.
Zaabta saw rice yields improve from 14–16 bags to up to 20 bags per acre when farmers followed best agricultural practices. Furthermore, over 5,022 farmers were reached by Zaabta youth across six districts alone.
Knowledge sharing at different levels
There has also been significant income and job creation. Kenyan youths earn approximately 15,000 Kenyan Shillings (KES) per month (roughly 115 US dollars) from service provision. And in Uganda, youths earn an average of 200,000 Ugandan Shillings per month (approximately 56 USD), with access to SACCO loans, which are provided by the Child and Family Foundation Uganda (CFU) and enable business growth.
Trained youths are mentoring others and forming service microenterprises, with Rubanga seeing four youth-run agro-shops started with cooperative support now being independently managed. Zaabta's youth also run agro-input shops, earning both salaries and commissions.
Meanwhile, robust business growth and the strengthening of cooperatives has taken place. MCFPC and Keitt reported increased production, membership and market access. Rubanga witnessed youths becoming key service providers and agro-dealers, strengthening the cooperative's outreach.
Zaabta observed spillover effects, with previously idle farmers now engaged in production, and indirect knowledge transfer rising as farmers share knowledge gained from youth-trained neighbours.
“This is true extension,” says Zaabta Manager Godfrey Mayambala. “Youth are advising farmers on fertiliser and herbicide types, and this knowledge is spreading. I’ve seen neighbours teaching neighbours.”
Challenges and recommendations: charting the path forward
However, despite the successes, the two countries share common challenges, including transport and payment gaps. In addition to lacking transport, some youths working in farming have experienced delays in payment or not being paid at all.
Skill gaps also exist. There is a continued need for refresher training in areas like regenerative agriculture, climate-smart practices, leadership, financial literacy and record-keeping.
Also, multiple barriers, including logistical constraints in the two countries as well as financial linkages for source of capital, have to be addressed. Additionally, youth groups face leadership and trust issues, especially in Local Seed Business (LSB) activities. Limited educational backgrounds among some youth and weak coordination further compound these challenges.
A young farmer selling her produce at a market in Uganda.
Photo: CABI
Both MCFPC and Keitt in Kenya, along with the Ugandan cooperatives, strongly recommend scaling the model by onboarding more youth and formalising service contracts. This includes providing more exposure to practical training and mentorship, and leveraging the cooperative model for broader impact and produce buy-back.
“This model works“, Ms Wavinya concludes. “Scaling it would increase our impact and reach more farmers.” And Mr Mayambala adds: “The cooperative model is ideal for scaling because it helps us reach many farmers and even buy back their produce.”
A blueprint for inclusive agricultural growth
The experiences of MCFPC, Keitt, Rubanga and Zaabta unequivocally demonstrate that when youth are equipped with skills, tools and integrated into cooperative and agribusiness platforms, they transform into effective agricultural service providers and entrepreneurs.
This cooperative and agribusiness-led model offers a powerful, scalable solution to youth unemployment and a vital pathway for rural transformation across East Africa. It enhances farmer outcomes, strengthens rural economies and builds resilient agricultural value chains for a brighter, more prosperous future.
Harrison Rware is the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer Africa at CAB International (CABI).
More information:
CABI’s PlantwisePlus Programme
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology
Rubanga Cooperative Society Ltd
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