Kisumu County has officially launched the KSh 87 million Pap Konam Agricultural Training College (ATC), a flagship investment designed to equip farmers and young agripreneurs with practical skills, modern techniques and value‑addition know‑how that are badly needed to drive transformation in the county’s agricultural sector.
Located in Seme sub‑county, the facility will provide comprehensive training in modern farming methods, climate‑smart agriculture, pest management, irrigation and agribusiness incubation areas that key stakeholders have identified as critical for boosting productivity and tackling persistent challenges in the region’s agriculture industry.
Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Kisumu’s economy, with thousands of households depending on crop farming, livestock and fisheries, despite moderate land use and productivity that fall below the sector’s potential due to weak market linkages, climate variability and limited extension services.
Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o described the new college as a game changer for local agriculture and youth development.
“Pap Konam ATC will open doors for skills, innovation and agribusiness incubation, unlocking opportunities for our youth and farmers to thrive in modern agriculture,” Governor Nyong’o said.
His remarks reflect Kisumu’s broader vision of modernizing agriculture, strengthening extension services and building value chains that can generate decent rural employment in a strategy that aligns with the county’s Agriculture Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS) and devolution’s goals of bottom‑up economic transformation.
Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili added that the college is a strategic response to persistent gaps in agricultural skills and youth unemployment.
“This facility bridges the skills divide by offering practical training that responds directly to real challenges faced by our farmers and young agripreneurs,” Dr. Owili said. “By equipping them with up‑to‑date techniques and value‑chain expertise, we are laying the foundation for stronger productivity and sustainable incomes.” He added.
Over the years, the Kisumu County government has expanded farmer support programs, promoted climate‑smart practices, strengthened extension services and partnered with development agencies to improve access to inputs and address food security challenges.
Pap Konam ATC will initially operate as a constituent college linked to Bukura Agricultural Training College in western Kenya before transitioning into a fully independent institution. The facility is expected to open doors to its first cohort of trainees soon.
County officials, including MP Dr. James Nyikal, County Secretary Hesbon Hongo, Agriculture CECM Kenneth Onyango and others, joined the governor and deputy governor at the launch, signaling broad support from both the political and technical wings of the county administration.
The new college is seen not only as a training hub but also as an anchor for agribusiness development, helping Kisumu leverage its fertile soils, diverse crops, fisheries resources and growing value‑addition opportunities into meaningful socio‑economic transformation.
