The University of Eldoret’s TAGDev 2.0 team joined farmers, agricultural experts, and national leaders at the Koibatek Agricultural Training Centre (KATC) on May 14, 2025, for the official launch of the First Lady’s Kitchen Garden Initiative, led by H.E. Mama Rachel Ruto. The event, centered on promoting household food security and sustainable agriculture, provided a valuable platform for the TAGDev 2.0 team to reaffirm its commitment to community transformation through innovation and inclusive partnerships.
During the engagement, the team held a consultative meeting with KATC Principal, Mr. Mark Yego, focusing on areas of mutual interest, including youth empowerment, farmer training, and sustainable agricultural practices. The discussion emphasized the shared goal of equipping communities, especially young people with tools to build resilient, food-secure livelihoods.
TAGDev 2.0, a program supported by RUFORUM, aims to transform African agricultural universities into engines of development. At its core along the Dairy Value chain are goals such as community and stakeholder engagement for knowledge and skill transfer in agri-entrepreneurship,research into diversification of the dairy sector, skilling and retooling of farmers for work and wealth creation, incubation and acceleration and greening of landscapes thus enhancing food and nutrition security, scaling community-impact innovations, and empowering young agri-entrepreneurs through skills and knowledge.
The Koibatek event brought these goals to life, with live demonstrations of kitchen garden models and climate-smart technologies that align closely with TAGDev 2.0’s community-centered approach. The initiative is especially relevant to Out of School Youth, Women, People Living with Disabilities, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons offering low-cost entry points into agribusiness and opportunities to apply research and innovation at the grassroots level.
The University of Eldoret continues to champion strategic collaborations that advance sustainable agriculture, foster practical learning, and expand opportunities for students and farmers alike.