Youth to access Sh2m loans under new agribusiness drive

Youth Enterprise Development Fund CEO Benedict Atavachi during the training Forum in Nakuru

The Youth Enterprise Development Fund has launched soft loans of up to Sh2 million to help young people venture into agribusiness and create jobs. 

Acting CEO Benedict Atavachi said the fund is offering soft loans to youth who take up agricultural ventures, helping them succeed while contributing to Kenya’s economic growth.

“Agriculture remains the backbone of our economy, offering excellent returns and opportunities for young people. Those who embrace it with our support will not regret it,” he said.

Atavachi encouraged youth to invest in agribusiness, highlighting their energy and adaptability to modern farming technologies as advantages for maximising returns.

He said the government, through deliberate measures under President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, is promoting youth participation in agriculture nationwide.

Atavachi spoke during a Youth Agripreneurship Training Forum in Nakuru county.

“The YEDF Agribusiness Loan is a vital financing product that supports youth in agriculture. Unlike other institutions, we can offer substantial amounts at single-digit interest rates,” he said.

The forum, organised through the One Acre Fund’s Tupande initiative, brought together youth from Nakuru’s 11 subcounties.

Tupande, a social enterprise serving more than 1.2 million farmers in 34 counties, provides financing, training, inputs and market access to smallholder farmers.

At the event, YEDF unveiled a partnership framework with Tupande, combining the fund’s financial support with Tupande’s technical guidance and market linkages.

Atavachi said this collaboration enhances loan repayment prospects, as beneficiaries receive comprehensive support.

He highlighted practical challenges that still affect youth participation in agriculture, including limited access to affordable financing, market opportunities, land and essential business skills.

Loan repayment schedules, he said, would be aligned with production cycles to ensure sustainable growth.

The forum was attended by Nakuru agriculture executive Leonard Bor and senior One Acre Fund officials.

One Acre Fund communication officer Karigu Ekumbo said the youth were trained in modern agronomic practices while connecting with private and public partners.

“Through this training, young farmers gain the capacity to maximise production and earnings from their agricultural activities,” she said.

Tupande, she said, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and YEDF, is implementing a four-year initiative (2023–26) themed 'Reshaping Kenyan Agriculture for Dignified Youth Livelihoods'.

Ekumbo urged young people and women to view agriculture not merely as subsistence but as a pathway to wealth creation.