Abstract
Agriculture continues to be Sub-Saharan Africa’s dominant economic activity, accounting for 40% of gross domestic product (GDP), 15% of exports, and 60%-80% of employment. In Kenya, agriculture directly contributes 26% to the annual GDP and indirectly contributes another 25%. The sector accounts for 65% of Kenya’s total exports and more than 70% employment in rural areas. Therefore, the agricultural sector is not only the driver of Kenya’s economy, but also the means of livelihood for the majority of Kenyans. The goals for sustainable rural development in Kenya must aim at achieving food security, raised incomes, a clean environment, and lead to poverty reduction. One way to achieve sustainable development is through structural or organizational policies or actions aimed at transforming institutions towards becoming more responsive and sensitive to local needs and aspirations. The purpose of this study was to examine how Agriculture training centers ATCs have assisted in promoting sustainable rural development by disseminating information and knowledge, assisting farmers and other stakeholders in accessing farm inputs promoting public-private partnerships, and promoting climate change mitigation activities. A survey was carried out in Nyeri County by use of two structured questioners, one targeting farmers and one targeting extension agents. Results indicated that (ATCs) play a key role in disseminating knowledge, technologies, and agricultural information, as well as in linking farmers with other stakeholders in the Agricultural sector. However the ATCS should invest more in ICT infrastructure to be able to reach more farmers and stakeholders more effectively.
