In a move to boost food security and revitalize the local economy, Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o officially commissioned the Pap Konam Agricultural Training Centre in West Seme Ward today.
The project, which represents an investment of approximately KES 87 million, marks a turning point for a region long defined by its resilient farming traditions.
Addressing a jubilant crowd of local residents, known affectionately as Jo Pap Konam, the Governor described the facility as more than just a set of buildings. He hailed it as a “collective vision” nurtured by the community since its inception in the 2021-2022 financial year.
Agriculture serves as the backbone of Kisumu’s economy, contributing 16 percent of the gross county income and supporting one in every two households. However, the sector has recently been under siege from climate change, pests, and a dwindling interest from the younger generation.
“This centre is the answer,” Governor Nyong’o declared. “It carries our commitment to transforming agriculture from subsistence practice into a modern, commercially viable, and climate-resilient sector.”
The facility is designed to be a “centre of excellence” focusing on:
• Climate-Smart Agriculture: Training extension officers and farmers in sustainable techniques.
• Youth Agripreneurship: Creating a platform to lure the youth back to the land with modern technology and digital extension services.
• Research and Innovation: Serving as a hub for demonstration farms and farmer field schools.
The launch was attended by a host of leaders, including Deputy Governor Dr. Matthew Owili, who emphasized that the college fulfills a core promise to the people of Kisumu. Dr. Owili noted that the goal is to shift the narrative from food imports to food security, urging families to “produce what you can and not buy everything.”
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Kenneth Onyango, revealed that the college is already forging strategic linkages. The county is in talks with the Kenya School of Agriculture to eventually integrate the centre as a constituent college.
Furthermore, the county is at an advanced stage of acquiring an additional 30 acres from the community to facilitate future expansion, including hostels and advanced laboratories.
Area MP James Nyikal applauded the cordial working relationship between the community and the county government. He noted that the institution would provide vital skills to residents in areas such as horticulture.
As the ribbon was cut, the Governor reminded the residents that the success of the institution rests in their hands. “To the people of Pap Konam and Seme Sub-County: this is your institution. I encourage you to take pride in it and safeguard it so that it may serve generations to come.”
The commissioning marks the end of a three-phase development journey, but for the farmers of Seme, the real work of harvesting a more prosperous future is just beginning.
