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More And More Urban Youth Using Technology To Enter Agriculture In Kenya

More And More Urban Youth Using Technology To Enter Agriculture In Kenya

Gideon Anyona has always monitored activities in his farm using a smart phone while relaxing in his rented apartment located on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

His 15 acre farm, located in a rural Narok county 150 kilometers northwest of Nairobi, has a resident employee but mobile technology has eased the pressure of monitoring the general status of crops planted there.

The 33-year old banker manages his farm from the house, thanks to technology which has for the last few years transformed Kenya’s agriculture sector.

Anyona is among a growing army of farmers changing the East African nation’s agriculture sector, giving it a new and trendy face. Millions of youth are now venturing into it.

Armed with a smart phone, laptop and the internet, the new crop of farmers have engineered a revolution that has not only changed the perception towards farming but is also contributing to the country’s efforts in achieving food security.

From Xinhua. Story by Ejidiah Wangui.

“I am a banker by profession, I work at one of leading banks in Kenya but I plan to quit soon and focus on farming full time. This is my third year in farming and I don’t regret venturing into it. Farming is no longer the tiring and unrewarding job it was a few years ago. Technology has made it easier to navigate, I for instance don’t have any background in agriculture but I’m doing it very well,” Anyona told Xinhua.

He has installed different farming applications into his smart phone and this is where he draws all his farming knowledge from. He is also a member of different farming and marketing groups on social media where young farmers exchange information on matters related to agriculture.

Sometimes called “telephone farmers”, the new breed of farmers is making use of a growing number of digital platforms to help them choose and manage their crops more efficiently, and without forsaking their city life.

Read more at Xinhua.