Across Kenya and Uganda, a transformative movement is reshaping the agricultural landscape, driven by the dynamic partnership between rural youth and established cooperative societies.

Through the CABI-led PlantwisePlus programme, young people are not just finding employment; they're becoming vital service providers and agri-entrepreneurs, dramatically improving farmer productivity, produce quality, and rural livelihoods.

CABI has a commitment to working to reduce inequality through better opportunities for rural women and youth as outlined in its Medium-Term Strategy which outlines how it is working on the biggest challenges facing humanity. These include hunger, poverty, gender inequality, climate change and the loss of biodiversity.

Collaborative model tackles critical challenges like youth unemployment

This collaborative model tackles critical challenges like youth unemployment and limited access to essential agricultural advisory services, demonstrating a scalable pathway to sustainable growth.

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.

Effective agricultural service providers

The PlantwisePlus Youth Empowerment Programme strategically intervenes by equipping young individuals with the skills, tools, and platforms to become effective agricultural service providers.

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).

Pest diagnosis, pruning, and financial literacy

Gertrude Wavinya MCFPC Manager, said, “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.”

Jackline Kioko, KEITT Field Coordinator, added, “The training helped. Now we have skilled youths who reach more farmers with quality services like spraying and grafting.”

Similarly, in Uganda, the Rubanga Cooperative Society Ltd and ZAABTA Cooperative, have mirrored this success. Rubanga, with over 12 years of youth engagement experience, hosted trained youth service providers, facilitating plant clinics, embedding them with cooperative extension staff, and linking them to government-led digital farmer mapping initiatives.

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 modeling training.
ZAABTA, has over 20 years of youth engagement and has mainstreamed CABI-trained youths into their advisory systems. From an existing pool of 400 youth, 87 Plant Doctors (PDs) were selected and trained.

Nankya Prossy, Deputy Manager, ZAABTA, said, “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 regards to expanded farmer reach and improved service quality, in both Kenya and Uganda, there's 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 while 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.

Significant income and job creation

There has also been significant income and job creation. Kenyan youths earn approximately KES 15,000 per month (approximately $115 USD) from service provision. And in Uganda, youths earn an average of UGX 200,000 per month (approximately $56 USD) with access to SACCO loans enabling 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 neighbors.

As Godfrey Mayambala, ZAABTA Manager, said, “This is true extension. Youth are advising farmers on fertilizer, herbicide types and this knowledge is spreading. I’ve seen neighbours teaching neighbours.”

Challenges and recommendations: Charting the path forward

However, despite the successes, common challenges across both countries are experienced. These include transport and payment gaps where some youths lack transport and have faced delays in or absent farmer payments.

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.

There is a need to address multiple barriers, including logistical constraints in the two countries as well as financial linkages for source of capital. 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.

Both MCFPC and KEITT in Kenya, along with the Ugandan cooperatives, strongly recommend scaling the model by onboarding more youth and formalizing service contracts. This includes providing more exposure to practical training and mentorship, and leveraging the cooperative model for broader impact and produce buy-back.

Ms Wavinya concluded, “This model works. Scaling it would increase our impact and reach more farmers.” Mr Mayambala added, “The cooperative model is ideal for scaling because it helps us reach many farmers and even buy back their produce.”

Conclusion: 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.