AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY OPERATION TRAINING IN KENYA

Farm mechanization in Kenya is influenced by increasing population pressure, evolving farm structures, labor availability, and the costs and suitability of technology. Despite investing in expensive tractors, many farmers lack the knowledge to properly operate and maintain them, often leading to inefficiencies and soil degradation. In response, Egerton University, in partnership with Hello Tractor Ltd., the Micro-Enterprise Support Programme, and local tractor dealers, developed an agricultural machinery training program. This program is designed to equip farmers and tractor operators with the skills necessary to maximize machinery efficiency for improved yields while ensuring long-term farm profitability and sustainability. It features eight comprehensive modules that transform tractor drivers into certified agricultural machinery operators. Graduates earn a certificate of competency and a G12 endorsement on their driving licenses. The program’s assessment is divided into 30% theoretical learning and 70% practical fieldwork with agricultural machinery. With a target of training 10,000 operators, the program also aims to unlock financing opportunities for youth and women in agriculture. To date, approximately 280 participants have completed the training, with 85% achieving certification. The gender breakdown includes 86 women (31%) and 194 men (69%). Trainees highly rated the practical skills they acquired, such as ploughing, harrowing, tractor driving, operating planters and boom sprayers, and performing maintenance tasks. These hands-on experiences provide a deeper, more personal understanding of key agricultural concepts.