Kenya Commercial Bank and ILO yesterday signed a Sh5.6 million deal to train youth farmers. KCB company secretary, David Malakwen said the partnership will enable 500 farmers from Turkana, Msambweni, Machakos, Kilifi and Njoro acquire business skills. "The training will encompass modern agriculture, animal and crop husbandry techniques as well as business and financial management," he said.

He said the programme will work with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to provide support through grants and business support services. The partnership will assist community projects in enterprise development, health, education humanitarian intervention and environment.

"Forty per cent of the jobless people worldwide are young people and there are currently about 75 million unemployed youth aged between 15 and 24," said Jealous Chirove, ILO chief technical advisor. Chirove said on there are plans to also extend the same support to youths in Rwanda and Tanzania once the programme is completed.

Joseph Kanyi, the enterprise development officer in the Ministry of Labour said the ministry was proud to support the youth both in agriculture and non- agriculture business ventures. Catherine Namuye , the general manager of the Youth Enterprise Fund said the project will break the assumption that agriculture is for those who have failed in school.

"Many youth take agriculture as the last option in life or for failures, the industry pays well and anyone can venture into it," she said. She said that they have conducted a pilot project for sorghum in Busia and was successful and are currently working on similar project in Bunyala.

Other reporters Daisy Komen and Arthur Tsuma.