Kakamega youths embrace Hass Avocado farming to fight unemployment

In a bid to tackle the growing unemployment crisis among young people, over 100 youths drawn from all 12 subcounties of Kakamega County have been equipped with knowledge and skills in hass avocado farming, offering a promising alternative to the elusive formal job market.

The training, facilitated by Tupande (One Acre Fund), a non-governmental organisation, brought together young people who have long struggled to secure employment after completing their education a challenge they say has left many idle and without a clear path forward.

Speaking to journalists after the session, youths led by Solomon Mudogo expressed optimism about their new direction. Mudogo, who admitted to having spent considerable time at home without work after school, said the training had given him both confidence and a concrete plan.

“After school, I have been at home doing nothing, but from today I will engage in avocado farming because I am well equipped with knowledge,” he said.

Mudogo added that he intends to mobilise fellow youths in his village to take up the venture, describing hass avocado farming as a potentially life-changing opportunity. He noted that the training covered practical aspects of the crop, including suitable pesticides, farm inputs, and common diseases that could affect yields.

Eunice Nyongesa, a participant from Lumakanda Subcounty, echoed similar sentiments, noting that hass avocado farming is comparatively more affordable than traditional crops such as maize. She admitted to having previously assumed the crop required intensive management, a notion the training helped dispel.

“Avocado has a lot of benefits, and I will have to practise it since I have knowledge and skills from experts who were here. I also thank Tupande/One Acre Fund for facilitating the training,” Nyongesa said, urging other youths across the county to consider the venture seriously.

On the organisers’ side, Eugine Karoli, Tupande’s Officer in Charge of Government Relations, said the initiative was born out of a recognition that unemployment remains a deeply entrenched challenge nationally, and that equipping young people with self-sustaining skills was a meaningful intervention.

“We had an engagement with youths from all subcounties in Kakamega about growing hass avocado. We have equipped them with skills, and it will help them thrive in their lives through avocado farming,” Karoli said.

Crucially, Tupande has gone beyond training alone. Karoli revealed that the organisation has established connections with international markets, including buyers in the Middle East and the United States, who are ready to purchase produce from the young farmers.

The organisation has also partnered with additional stakeholders to help the youths navigate the agricultural value chain and access reliable markets upon harvest.

“As Tupande, we have our partners and are willing to buy avocado from young farmers. Upon harvesting, the youths will sell their produce directly to them and have money in their pockets,” Karoli affirmed.

The initiative represents a growing shift among Kakamega’s youth away from dependence on government employment and towards entrepreneurial, agriculture-based livelihoods. With market linkages already in place and the training now complete, participants say they are ready to put their new skills to work.