NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — An unusual new reality TV show is the first in Africa to encourage young people to see agriculture as a viable career option.

"Don't Lose the Plot," backed by the U.S. government, trains young adults from Kenya and neighboring Tanzania in farming and gives them plots to cultivate, with a $10,000 prize for the most productive. The goal: Prove to a booming African youth population that agriculture can be fun and profitable.

Producers said the show wants to demystify the barriers to starting a small business and challenge the prejudices against farming-related careers, as many youths flee rural areas for cities. Attracting people to agriculture is no small challenge in Africa, where a booming young population is often put off by the image of punishing work and poor, weather-beaten farmers.