Strengthening Agriculture Extension and Advisory Service Delivery in Murang'a County

Abstract

Agriculture accounts for about 60% of Murang'a County's economic activity and 70% of local employment, yet the extension officer-to-farmer ratio stands at 1:7,950 and is expected to worsen as staff retire. The brief draws on secondary data, a literature review, stakeholder mapping and a county policy dialogue. It reviews extension approaches used since devolution, the challenges facing women and youth (finance, information, land), and youth unemployment of 37%. It recommends a participatory county digitalization policy defining the role of digital connectors, a county agricultural data management policy, a clearer "one ward, one cooperative" policy that places agripreneurs in public extension, digital credit schemes for farmers, and private-sector partnerships for digital connectors.