It is no doubt that agriculture is a very practical subject.
Over the past 30 months or so, we have traversed Kenya and beyond in a bid to spark an agricultural renaissance. I always reminisce about this one time in Limuru when we told a group of young students that agriculture is one of the most luxurious ventures they can engage in, and they burst out laughing.
Reason? Their parents were farmers, and they had seen them struggle to put food on the table.
The biggest challenge has always been the disconnect between theory and practice. We talk about farming, we preach about sustainability, but rarely do we show what it actually looks like in real life. Not just telling, but demonstrating. That is why the AGC Centre of Excellence feels like a dream.
This hub will not only bridge the gap between knowledge and practice but also bring technology, innovation, and community together in one living space. Imagine a place where young people can walk in with curiosity and walk out with skills. Where you can literally see a beehive turn into a business or a seedling turn into a movement.
At the heart of the Centre lies the tree nursery and seedling propagation unit, a space that carries the promise of a greener Kenya.
By focusing on fruit trees, the Centre aims to tackle two major challenges at once; climate change and food security. Each seedling represents a meal, a shade, and a cleaner breath for generations to come. Imagine school groups coming in to learn how an avocado or mango tree can feed families, store carbon, and protect soil. It is a simple but powerful idea: one tree at a time, we can change the story.
Then there is the smart agritech classroom, which will be the heartbeat of innovation. Think of it as a lab for ideas, where theory meets technology. Here, young people will explore digital agriculture, data driven farming, and modern solutions that make agriculture cool again. From drones to irrigation sensors, from virtual lessons to field simulations, the classroom will give learners the chance to experience agriculture like never before. For many urban youth who have only seen farming in textbooks, this will be their first real encounter with the soil, the plants, and the science behind them.
And of course, the apiculture and sustainability units will take visitors into the world of bees and biodiversity. It is fascinating how something so small can have such a big impact. Through these sections, we hope to show that climate action can also be profitable. A single hive can support a family, protect trees, and help the planet.
What makes the Centre even more special is its location in Nairobi. The city is home to thousands of young people who are curious but disconnected from agriculture. The AGC Centre of Excellence will bring the farm to the city. It will open its doors to schools, universities, and youth groups, allowing them to see that agriculture is not just for rural communities but for everyone who eats, dreams, and wants to make a difference.
For us at SMACHS, this Centre is not just a project; it is a living dream. It represents years of vision, partnership, and faith in young people. It is proof that when communities come together with purpose, incredible things can happen.
So yeah, the Centre of Excellence still feels like a dream. But riddle me, aren’t dreams meant to be realized?
