Beneficiaries of Amiran’s Mentorship programme Assessed

By Eric Akasa

Amiran Kenya Limited Tuesday hosted an assessment day for thirty five, third year agricultural students from Egerton University at the Amiran Headquarters in Nairobi’s Embakasi area. This was to identify the students who after the 3 month programme are ‘work ready’ and able to translate all they learnt in classrooms and lecture halls to success in the real workplace.

“In its continued efforts to empower the small and medium scale farmers in Kenya and East Africa based on its approach of bringing knowledge, know-how and modern agro-technology to farmers, Amiran has sought to mentor young men and women in Universities to take up the role and bring young new blood into the agricultural industry and be an expel to other youth that farming can be ‘cool’.” Remarks Gilad Millo, head of Administration, Business development and Public Relations Amiran.

During the 3 month duration students were expected to turn theory into practicality in the various farms that they were allocated to; Farm Africa, Jubilee Christian church, Red cross, FHF Meru, North Eastern Avas Farm, Commesa Mumias and Kitale, Green Face, Heart Undani, Mada Island, Happy House Wetam, Ngwano and Plant International, all close clients of Amiran were privileged to have the university students work with and for them during the programme that was closely watched by Amiran Agronomists.

Amiran’s approach with the students allows their agronomists to train the students while sharing their own experience on how to handle situations, transform key concepts of what is learnt into a message that inspires and empowers the students to believe in themselves showing them they may be part of curbing food insecurity in Kenya and the region as a whole.

“Amiran’s agronomists were very helpful to me for they taught me many things on the ground that I didn’t know like intensive farming.” Says Faith Muthama a third year student at Egerton University who was attached at the Amiran headquarters in Nairobi.

“During the three months at Amiran, I interacted a lot with farmers who were coming to seek for advice; others came for trainings lucky enough we had a whole day training while I was here helped me a lot.” Says Muthama.

Muthama advises those students who shun agricultural subjects to take them because agriculture is the backbone of Kenya.

Another student Cormic Muthuri who was attached at Wajir also shares his experience with Africa News Mirror of how Amiran helped him. “Being in Wajir where few farmers embrace greenhouse technology hence I loved interacting with the few farmers who came for advice.” Says Muthuri.

Muthuri reiterates Muthama, “I advise those who don’t like agricultural courses so as to help Kenya eradicate poverty through farming. There are also a lot of opportunities in the agricultural sector.” Observes Muthama.

Muthama thanks Amiran for the opportunity they gave to him and other students from Egerton University. 

During the assessment Students gave a brief summary of the challenges they faced and what they learnt during the three month placement and how they plan to share with their peers.

The programme that has run for 3 months is  another in a line of youth oriented initiatives, which Amiran has lead aimed at changing negative perceptions among youth towards agribusiness. In the last 2 years Amiran has been awarded with the MDG Award for Youth Empowerment for its collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports creating a new agribusiness curriculum in over 300 youth polytechnics based on the award winning Amiran Farmers Kit (AFK).

Additionally, the ‘Amiran Next Generation Farmers Initiative’ in partnership with the Kenya Red Cross Society, has seen over 1000 schools equipped with the modern agribusiness unit, and Amiran’s ‘Farming is ‘Cool’ campaign registered huge support among youth throughout the country.