Vicious cycles of poverty and unemployment among rural youth in Kenya have necessitated the search for an alternative sustainable solution. Whereas the youth population continues to surge, the majority of them are reluctant to venture into agricultural enterprises. This study reviewed the prospect of youth’s venture in agripreneurship for poverty reduction and improvement of rural employment in Kenya. The review was based on a comprehensive literature review related to youth engagement in agripreneurship that was conducted from December 2020 to May 2021. Secondary data was gathered from databases such as Science Direct, Scopus, CAB abstracts, MDPI, Springer, Google Scholar, RefSeek, SAGE, John Wiley, and Taylor and Francis. Findings indicate that youth engagement in agripreneurship has the potential of increasing food production in Kenya. Consequently, this will resolve the challenges of increasing unemployment and poverty rates among the growing population in Kenya but also bolster food security. There is a need for entrepreneurial education and training of rural youths to increase the chances of uptake of agriculture as an enterprise. Further, modalities should be drawn by the government to provide graduating students with start-up capital for agripreneurship ventures. Similarly, the government should establish a developmental fund to support the start-up process of agripreneurship to establish agricultural incubation centres. These will help in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Vision 2030 goals of transformation of smallholder agriculture from subsistence to an innovative, commercially oriented, and modern agricultural sector while eradicating poverty and providing employment opportunities to the youth.
Aquaculture is the world's fastest‐growing food‐producing sector, making it a significant contributor to food and nutrition security for the globally growing human population. Nevertheless, its long‐term growth is limited by the effects of climate change. Aquaculture in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), which is dominated by small‐scale fish farming, is increasingly threatened by climate change, which has a substantial influence on its productivity and scalability. In this context, the present research looks at the socio‐economic consequences of climate change on small‐scale fish producers in SSA, as well as potential adaptation techniques to the effects of climate change. A clear understanding of these socio‐economic repercussions of climate change is critical for developing effective strategies to reduce future impacts and safeguard aquaculture‐based livelihoods. Furthermore, understanding the socio‐economic consequences of climate change on communities dependent on aquaculture is important for advising policymakers and decision‐makers on formulating and implementing policies that sustain aquaculture production amidst the climate change crisis. This article suggests various adaptation strategies to increase resilience to climate change, including diversification of livelihoods and species, use and incorporation of local and indigenous knowledge, shifting to aquaculture species less vulnerable to changing climatic conditions, capacity building through aquaculture insurance schemes, continued fish supply from capture fisheries, and consolidation of equity and human rights concerns. These adaptive methods, when combined, have the potential to enhance outcomes for populations who are more susceptible owing to their unstable socio‐economic conditions.
The food price crisis of 2007–2008 and the recent resurgence of food prices have focused increasing attention on the causes and consequences of food price volatility in international food markets and the developing world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Agricultural Price Index was 34% higher as of 30 June 2022, compared to January 2021. This paper reviews increasing food crisis in Africa in the wake of climate change, COVID-19, and the Russia–Ukraine war and the implications on Africa’s food security stability. Climate change is affecting the fundamental basis of agriculture through changes in temperature, rainfall, and weather, and by intensifying the occurrences of floods, droughts, and heat stress. COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the production and supply chains, while the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war continues to disrupt the global food market and food prices. SSA is susceptible to the effects of this war, and this has already resulted in high demand for food commodities and increased food prices. The study calls for the need for the international community to establish a strategic food reserve to face food crises triggered by armed conflicts or climate-induced disasters and pandemics. This mechanism may facilitate reactive interventions that help to contain the human security implications of food crises, thus fostering peace. Solutions also lie in implementing programs and policies informing the monitoring of weather shocks and advancing supporting to those impacted. Additionally, the governments of SSAs should embrace domestic production of farm inputs such as fertilizer to avoid overdependence on imports which are susceptible to wars and conflict.
Fish cage culture has rapidly grown throughout Lake Victoria's shores, with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) being the primarily cultured species. However, there is inadequate information on its economic viability. The study investigated the economic feasibility of fish cage farming system in Lake Victoria, Kenya, by evaluating the relationship between cost of inputs and revenue from fish sales and analysing the overall profitability of the fish cage culture in the lake. Systematic sampling was employed to select 200 cage farmers for the study. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression analysis, gross margin analysis, net farm income and profitability ratios. The average quantity of fish produced in the production cycle was 11,971.53 kg from which an average of 9020.77 kg was sold at an average selling price of Kenyan Shillings (KSH) 281.36 (USD 2.60) per kg. The multiple regression results revealed that the cost of feeds (coefficient of −0.603) and fish seed (coefficient of −0.387) had a significant influence on returns from fish cage culture business at p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively. The costs of feeds and fish seed were significant components of the total production cost, accounting for 60.25% and 33.50%, respectively. Fish cage production was profitable, with an average gross margin of KSH 1146,727.68 (USD 10,545.59) and net farm income of KSH 1020,518.78 (USD 9384.94) in a production cycle, with a benefit cost ratio of 1.43, an expense structure ratio of 0.06, a gross revenue ratio of 0.70 and a return on investment of 0.43. The study recommends formulation of friendly policies, legislations, operating guidelines and an enabling environment for feed and fish seed producers by policy makers to enhance fish feed and seed production and subsequently reduce prices of feed and seed. Through this, economic viability of fish cage culture will be enhanced.