AGRICULTURE FOR LIFE PROJECT

From 19 to 23 January 2026, Don Bosco Tech Africa (DBTA) was privileged to host Dr. Daniel Ormeno from the Salesian Generalate in Rome. Dr. Ormeno oversees the Agriculture for Life Project; an initiative aimed at strengthening agricultural training and production across Salesian institutions.

The visit focused on a series of consultative meetings with DBTA and the Don Bosco Development Outreach Network (DBDON) to shape an initiative that will support agricultural training and production in Salesian communities and TVET centres in Africa, as well as to identify a suitable site for a pilot project in Kenya. The proposed initiative is anchored on four pillars: education and training; production; pastoral and social impact; and sustainability and continuity through agribusiness.

As part of the initiative, site visits were conducted at Don Bosco Embu and Don Bosco Makuyu to assess ongoing agricultural activities, productivity levels, training needs, market opportunities, staff capacity, and the impact of agriculture on surrounding communities. Don Bosco Embu emerged as a viable site for the pilot, with proposed interventions including the revitalisation and upscaling of orchards (with a focus on avocados and macadamia nuts), the installation of a climate-smart weather station to support local farmers, poultry farming, and the development of a comprehensive provincial sustainable agricultural plan.

The next steps will involve developing a full project proposal based on the outcomes of the visit. This will define the role of DBTA in leading and coordinating the Agriculture for Life initiative across Africa, while operationalising and implementing the pilot in Kenya. The pilot is expected to serve as a roadmap for the effective use of agriculture as a tool for youth empowerment and sustainable development across the continent.