Nairobi: A cohort of six agriculture graduates from Kenya is set to embark on a specialized Master’s program in China this September 2025. The graduates will attend the Master’s Degree in Resource Utilization and Plant Protection at China Agricultural University (CAU).
According to Kenya News Agency, Peter Mwangi, the Country Focal Person for the Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services – Kenya (KeFAAS), announced that these young professionals have been chosen to join the Sino-Africa Science and Technology Backyard (STB) program, marking the second cohort from Kenya. This initiative is part of a collaboration between KeFAAS, the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Office of Innovation, and CAU to promote the Multi-actor Agricultural Innovation Platform (MAIP) in Africa.
Speaking at the farewell ceremony in Nairobi, Mwangi emphasized the significance of the STB project, which aims to cultivate young African professionals capable of leading sustainable agricultural transformations and enhancing food security. The specialized training involves a three-year sandwich program with one year of academic study in China, followed by a year of fieldwork in Kenya, and concluding with a final year in China for thesis completion.
Mwangi highlighted the strong partnerships underpinning this initiative and KeFAAS’s ongoing commitment to increasing youth participation in agricultural innovation. He disclosed that the first cohort of students is set to complete their program in October and will initiate the establishment of the scientific technology backyard at the Kenyatta Agriculture Institution in Murang’a.
The program faces challenges in recruiting enough suitable candidates, as noted by Mwangi, due to a decline in students pursuing agriculture at the university level. Nevertheless, KeFAAS has been allocated 25 slots for the program and plans to send another cohort of 10 students next year.
Javan Kiptoo, a beneficiary of the program and a recent graduate of Egerton University, expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity. Kiptoo aims to apply the knowledge gained from the program to address agricultural challenges in his home county of Baringo, including soil acidification and inefficient resource use.
Prof Agnes Oywaya Nkurumwa from Egerton University and a member of the KeFAAS board emphasized the importance of this partnership with China. She noted that the scholarship provides a valuable opportunity for young Kenyans to deepen their engagement in agriculture and learn from China’s advanced agricultural practices.
The initiative aims to bridge the gap between technological advancements and practical applications on Kenyan farms, ultimately boosting agricultural productivity and profitability.