ATVET, Skills Development, Capacity Building and Knowledge Dissemination

While the importance of agricultural knowledge, information and skills to increase productivity of farms has been widely recognised, few concrete steps have been taken undertaken to strengthen ATVET and extension systems on the African continent and to offer quality ATVET and extension services to farmers on a wider scale.

This can be attributed to limited financial resources, wrong setting of priorities by decision makers, inadequate policies in place or the lack of know-how on how to develop and improve knowledge and information systems for Africa’s agricultural sector.

The same applies for the optimisation of value chains. Stakeholders all agree on the importance of using holistic approaches that includes interventions along entire value chains but the impact of these interventions is limited.

Strengthening Agricultural Skills for Africa’s Future

Across Africa, millions of smallholder farmers face persistent barriers to productivity and profitability due to limited access to practical agricultural training, reliable knowledge systems, and modern technologies. Conventional training models often emphasize theory, leaving farmers without the applied skills required to improve productivity, strengthen resilience, and transition into profitable agribusinesses.
LRC Foundation is addressing this challenge by investing in practical skills development, knowledge dissemination, and institutional strengthening that enable farmers to participate competitively in modern agricultural value chains.
Through targeted capacity-building initiatives and strategic partnerships, we are equipping farmers, youth, and agricultural institutions with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities needed to drive inclusive agricultural growth.

Transforming Agricultural Training Systems

For more than a decade, LRC Foundation has championed the Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) dual education model, an innovative approach that integrates classroom-based learning with hands-on practical training.
This model equips farmers and agricultural practitioners with immediately applicable skills while strengthening the capacity of agricultural training institutions to deliver market-relevant education.
Our long-term objective is to support the transition of smallholder farmers from subsistence production to sustainable, market-oriented agribusiness.

Expected Outcomes
• Farmers equipped with practical, income-generating agricultural skills
• Youth empowered to pursue viable careers in agriculture and agribusiness
• Strengthened agricultural training institutions delivering market-relevant education
• Increased productivity and competitiveness within the agricultural sector

Knowledge Dissemination Platforms
• Webinars and virtual learning programmes
• Online knowledge hubs and digital resource libraries
• Social media-based farmer education campaigns
• Rural radio programmes reaching underserved communities
• Mobile training units delivering field-based demonstrations
• Digital tools supporting farm-level decision-making

These platforms provide farmers with access to practical guidance, climate-smart agricultural practices, and market-oriented production strategies.

Leveraging Partnerships for Scalable Impact

Sustainable transformation of the agricultural sector requires coordinated action across multiple stakeholders. LRC Foundation actively collaborates with government institutions, research organizations, development partners, academic institutions, and private-sector actors to expand the reach and impact of our programmes.
Our partnerships facilitate knowledge exchange, innovation adoption, and the scaling of effective agricultural training models.
We engage in:
• Agricultural knowledge and innovation forums
• Multi-stakeholder learning exchanges
• Field demonstrations and pilot initiatives
• Research collaborations and evidence-based programming
Through these partnerships, LRC Foundation contributes to strengthening agricultural knowledge ecosystems and advancing sustainable rural development.

Strategic Impact Goals

Through this programme, LRC Foundation seeks to deliver measurable and sustainable outcomes for farmers, communities, and the agricultural sector.
By 2028, we aim to:
• Scale the ATVET dual training model across agricultural training institutions in Kenya
• Expand equitable access to agricultural skills development for smallholder farmers and rural youth
• Strengthen national and regional collaboration in agricultural education, research, and innovation
• Develop sustainable knowledge platforms capable of reaching farmers at scale

Partner With Us
Empowering farmers with practical skills, knowledge, and access to innovation is essential to achieving sustainable agricultural transformation, improved food security, and resilient rural livelihoods.
LRC Foundation welcomes collaboration with development partners, donors, research institutions, and private-sector actors committed to strengthening agricultural systems and empowering farmers across Africa.
Together, we can build a future where farmers thrive, rural economies grow, and agriculture becomes a driver of sustainable development.