The European Union (EU) through its Agribiz program has lined up 200 promising Kenyan women and youth led businesses for support in a project aimed at increasing smallholder production, improve food security and boost household incomes.
It is estimated that over the coming five years, the program will create 17,000 jobs in the agricultural sector.
AgriBiz will achieve this by funding 200 women and youth-led agribusinesses as part of the programme, and by reaching over 1.2 million smallholder beneficiaries over a period of five years at a cost of Ksh5.1 billion.
An additional Ksh17.1 billion in loans will also be leveraged from local financial institutions to support the enterprises.
Since Kenya is largely an agricultural country, investments in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the agribusiness sector will also help the economy to bounce back from COVID-19.
Agribusinesses selected for the programme will benefit from training, business advisory and financing to promote the sustainable use of natural resources and encourage appropriate agribusiness practices.
The advice will be provided to all selected agribusinesses through business incubation hubs set up in eight counties which include Kilifi, Machakos, Kiambu, Meru, Isiolo, Kisii, Bungoma and Uasin Gishu.
Simon Mordue, EU Ambassador underscored that the huge interest in AgriBiz is an indicator that, contrary to popular opinion, women and youth are embracing agribusiness activities.
“The EU with Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC) is providing the various forms of business support that they need. By bringing in young people and women into the sector, and in the process creating over 17 000 jobs across Kenya, we are helping to boost the sustainability of the Kenyan agricultural sector and to move it up the value chain,” said Mordue.
In the current selection round, KCIC meticulously selected 200 candidates from amongst the 2,400 applications received after a highly competitive evaluation process.
The 200 candidates include early stage/start-up companies, SMEs, women and youth-led community based organisations, as well as Self Help Groups.
The applications from women and youth-led Agribusinesses that were selected were those that demonstrated the best scalability and potential for replication and growth of their product or service, and thus the biggest potential to increase incomes for value chain stakeholders.
“We are impressed that we have received an overwhelming response to the call from across the country, an indication there are so many agribusinesses out there seeking different forms of support to spur their growth,” said KCIC Chief Executive Officer Edward Mungai at the close of the evaluation exercise.
Other attributes that were considered for selection included; business model feasibility which shows a clear and compelling mission to grow a sustainable and commercially viable agribusiness enterprise; the potential to adopt and leverage smart approaches that drive the growth of the agribusiness; social impact which include the potential to create decent employment opportunities for youth and women; and market opportunity, including knowledge and understanding of the agricultural and livestock value chain, of customers’ needs, and competitors approaches.
Over a five-year period the Agribiz programme will overall support over 1600 enterprises to develop bankable business plans, 1200 enterprises to access financing from financial institutions and over 1500 women to access EU supported community level micro financial services.
The selected businesses are listed below
| No | Name of Entreprise | Early stage/SME/CBOs |
| Naxveg Kukufresh Limited | SME | |
| Primetime Agencies Limited | SME | |
| Best Workforce Development Plan Kenya Ltd | SME | |
| Firstlook Enterprises | SME | |
| Pals Agriculture Limited | SME | |
| T/A Lilian Wangari Ngila | SME | |
| T/A Sethpaul Mwenda | SME | |
| Taitan Farm | SME | |
| Mitsa Elengos Ltd | SME | |
| Shamolarics Greens and Fresh Produce | SME | |
| Cibiya Farm Holdings Ltd | SME | |
| Clarance Enterprises | SME | |
| Deep Valley Frontiers Limited | SME | |
| Vicknice Merchants Limited | SME | |
| Insectipro | SME | |
| Zaccol Limited | SME | |
| Farm Share Kenya Ltd | SME | |
| Kalabashi Investments Ltd | SME | |
| Eseriani Farm | SME | |
| Kieru Ltd | SME | |
| Loftycraft Invesment Company Limited | SME | |
| Merest Flowers | SME | |
| Grace Rock Limited | SME | |
| Envisage Ltd | SME | |
| Kimplanter Seedlings And Nurseries Ltd | SME | |
| Gooseberry Delight | SME | |
| Kericho Eagles Limited | SME | |
| T/A MercyN | SME | |
| Optimum Fruveg Ltd. | SME | |
| Freshplus Ltd | SME | |
| Mbeenthei Fish Farm | SME | |
| Cherishfruit World Ltd | SME | |
| Utake Coffee Limited | SME | |
| Harvillarrrh Covey Limited | SME | |
| Freshvot Limited | SME | |
| Jani Exports Limited | SME | |
| Perennial Beekeepers | SME | |
| Afya Foods Ea Ltd | SME | |
| Sunberry Farms Limited | SME | |
| Wefahson Limited | SME | |
| Sky Reign Ltd | SME | |
| Highbreed Chicks | SME | |
| Blue Savy Enterprices | SME | |
| Fenesi Foods Ltd | SME | |
| Ess. & Paul Investments | SME | |
| Nuts And Oils International | SME | |
| Safelink Technologies Ltd | SME | |
| Summeat Enterprise | SME | |
| Kel Feeds Enterprises Limited | SME | |
| Sorgum Pioneer Agencies | SME | |
| Andytech Solutions | SME | |
| Bona Holdings Limited | SME | |
| Tala Iconic Business World | SME | |
| Iagribiz Africa | SME | |
| Vuka Mama Project | SME | |
| Premier Harvest Enterprises | SME | |
| Nainchu Farms Limited | SME | |
| Rachael Kingori | SME | |
| Sylvia’S Basket | SME | |
| Lactolife Dairy Ltd | SME | |
| Alliance Ultimate Enterprises | SME | |
| Agribusiness Solutions Ltd | SME | |
| Space Agritech | SME | |
| Kiburu Greens Farm | SME | |
| Ifarmkonnect Limited | SME | |
| Hasanat Ventures Limited | SME | |
| Jancota Limited | SME | |
| Patvention Enterprise | SME | |
| Bulk Resources Limited | SME | |
| Elite Posho Mill | SME | |
| Girays Foods | SME | |
| Irri-Hub Ke | SME | |
| Spring Harvest Limited | SME | |
| Cavacs International Ltd | SME | |
| Eco Sprew – Kenya | SME | |
| Grun Africa Limited | SME | |
| Zactina Limited | SME | |
| Apiculture Venture Limited | SME | |
| Farmula Limited | SME | |
| Seton Enterprises | SME | |
| Agri-Hydraulics | Early Stage | |
| Fauwa Enterprise | Early Stage | |
| Sarah Achieng Ochieng | Early Stage | |
| Sammy Mutinda Muinde | Early Stage | |
| New Che Mathare Farm | Early Stage | |
| Solana Enterprises | Early Stage | |
| Simon Njuguna | Early Stage | |
| Berndi Sweet Hive | Early Stage | |
| Kabete Vegrow | Early Stage | |
| Rio Agri Farm Limited | Early Stage | |
| Divas Lifestyle | Early Stage | |
| Fereen Chicken Farm | Early Stage | |
| Linda Farm | Early Stage | |
| Lopur Integrated Farm | Early Stage | |
| Elias Njogu Maina | Early Stage | |
| Smart Gardeners -Hosa | Early Stage | |
| Pemoska Engineering Works | Early Stage | |
| Felicity Mwendwa | Early Stage | |
| Matuu Project | Early Stage | |
| Tbisha Poultry Farming | Early Stage | |
| Kennyvale Enterprises | Early Stage | |
| Mimea Farm Produce Ltd | Early Stage | |
| Medicinal Gardens | Early Stage | |
| Spectrum Group Movement | Early Stage | |
| Njenga Pyrethrum Farm | Early Stage | |
| Lolmy’S Agrovet | Early Stage | |
| M’Awa Gold Hive Products | Early Stage | |
| Masii Horticultural Farmers Coperative Society | Early Stage | |
| Planet And People | Early Stage | |
| Honey Zest | Early Stage | |
| Danest Realm General Supplies | Early Stage | |
| Dess Bios | Early Stage | |
| Navinga Agri-Enterprise | Early Stage | |
| Precy Women Group | Early Stage | |
| Monica Njambi Kamiti | Early Stage | |
| Afridelics | Early Stage | |
| Triple L Premium Feeds Ltd | Early Stage | |
| Twinz Caterers Events And General Supplie Ltd | Early Stage | |
| Dimac Dairy | Early Stage | |
| Dipsea Care Naturals | Early Stage | |
| Sanjawa Genesis Farms | Early Stage | |
| Okoa Food | Early Stage | |
| Kropert Limited | Early Stage | |
| Jamuh Ltd | Early Stage | |
| Nyouya Agri-Solutions | Early Stage | |
| There For You Enterprises | Early Stage | |
| Kezia Kimeu | Early Stage | |
| Everlyne Wambui Githinji | Early Stage | |
| Solakilimo | Early Stage | |
| Peter Mwendwa Ndolo | Early Stage | |
| Denis Omondi Ogola | Early Stage | |
| Elikia Food Processors | Early Stage | |
| Natilogo Enterprises Ltd | Early Stage | |
| Hydro Victoria Fish Hatchery Farm | Early Stage | |
| Agripride | Early Stage | |
| Youth In Business Africa | Early Stage | |
| Esther Nyakiri | Early Stage | |
| Gikabu Millers | Early Stage | |
| City Yard Farming Solutions Limited | Early Stage | |
| Garden Fesh Organics | Early Stage | |
| Caterina Farm | Early Stage | |
| Baringo Renewable Energy Centre-Brec Kenya | Early Stage | |
| Blue Firms Investments Limited | Early Stage | |
| Kipini Limited | Early Stage | |
| Magic Honey | Early Stage | |
| Rads Enterprises | Early Stage | |
| Viakwetu Limited | Early Stage | |
| Rewix Agr0Dealers | Early Stage | |
| Oxygen Park | Early Stage | |
| Miriton Ltd Com. | Early Stage | |
| Karyos Kitchen | Early Stage | |
| Amber Green Farm | Early Stage | |
| Golden Cow Dairy Hub | Early Stage | |
| Green Growers | Early Stage | |
| The Farm Gang | Early Stage | |
| Econagric Solutions | Early Stage | |
| Rafikipay Ltd | Early Stage | |
| Topchoice Ltd | Early Stage | |
| Green Wells Organics Registered Under Treasure Wells | Early Stage | |
| Fred Omondi | Early Stage | |
| Kisumu Airport And Lakefront Neigbours Alliance | CBO/SHG | |
| Itambya Group Muthesya Women Group | CBO/SHG | |
| Natural Fiber Hub | CBO/SHG | |
| Eaglesight Youth Group | CBO/SHG | |
| Piktuk Sacco Ltd | CBO/SHG | |
| Muchui Women Group | CBO/SHG | |
| Mondo Emwandu Youth Group | CBO/SHG | |
| Kaminji Progressive Youth Group | CBO/SHG | |
| Dreamsville | CBO/SHG | |
| Kathera Women In Coffee Cbo | CBO/SHG | |
| Speak-Project | CBO/SHG | |
| Ushindi Poultry And Marketing Cooperative Society Limited | CBO/SHG | |
| Tag Dairy | CBO/SHG | |
| Meru Young Great Visioners | CBO/SHG | |
| CBO/SHG | ||
| Shirembe Tuinuke Community Based Organization | CBO/SHG | |
| Potus Self Help Group | CBO/SHG | |
| Faith And Vision Young Parents Self Help Group | CBO/SHG | |
| Pama Traditional Vegetable Farm | CBO/SHG | |
| Nyambene Arimi Dairy Cooperative Society Ltd | CBO/SHG | |
| Masanga Youth Processing Center | CBO/SHG | |
| Shammah Rown Group Ltd | CBO/SHG | |
| Mwanzo Mpya J***t Self Help Group | CBO/SHG | |
| Mushroom Farmers Self Help Group | CBO/SHG | |
| Wildwood Horticulture | CBO/SHG | |
| Alliance Of Women In Coffee | CBO/SHG | |
| Leadership Training And Integrated Development | CBO/SHG | |
| Shatieta Self Help Group | CBO/SHG | |
| Tareen Initiative Cbo | CBO/SHG | |
| Didkuro Bee Keepers Self Help Group | CBO/SHG | |
| Kiria-Ini Cabbages And Potatoes Traders Self-Help Group | CBO/SHG | |
| Giakaibii Organic Farmers Self Help Group | CBO/SHG | |
| Karimba Mwangaza Community Based Organization | CBO/SHG | |
| Makueni Sisal Weavers Cbo | CBO/SHG | |
| Courage Cbo | CBO/SHG | |
| Focus Wise Shg ( Focus On Cassava) | CBO/SHG | |
| Wamunyu Grain Agrigation Centre | CBO/SHG | |
| Mutula Cbo | CBO/SHG | |
| Mkulima Youth Group | CBO/SHG | |
| Oltili Lewangan Dairy Women Group | CBO/SHG |
