A cohort of 15 young agripreneurs in Busia County emerged as winners following a digital skills training program and a highly competitive pitch event, organized by Plusfarm.

The “Agripreneurship in a Digital Era” initiative, spanning five months, has successfully equipped 1,100 youths with essential digital tools to enhance their agricultural businesses.

The program, implemented in three phases, began by providing 1,067 individuals across 28 wards and all sub-counties with foundational digital skills, including government USSD platforms and digital marketing techniques. The second phase narrowed the focus to 100 selected agripreneurs, who received advanced training on incorporating digital technologies like Plusfarm Agribusiness Management System (PAMS), Agritrack, and Budget Mkononi into their operations.

They also honed their business planning and pitching skills. The final phase saw the top 15 agripreneurs, a group comprised of 10 women and 5 men, participate in an intensive training and support program, culminating in a pitch event held at Chef West Hotel in Busia town.

Judges from the Busia County Government’s Department of Agribusiness and Youth Affairs evaluated the pitches, ultimately distributing cash prizes to all participants in recognition of their innovative business plans.

“We are committed to supporting these agripreneurs as they implement their business plans and contribute to the economic growth of Busia County,” Stephen Mwongela, CEO of Plusfarm says.

Name Business Name Agri-business Type Sub-County Ward Amount Awarded
Kelvin Mulilu Fine touch Dairy farm Dairy farm Teso North Malaba Central 20,000.00
Nicholas Kisambo Bunyala Agri-Industrial Park Animal feeds production Bunyala Bunyala West 20,000.00
Simon Ochieno Giosima Trading Farm Pigs Matayos Bukhayo West 20,000.00
Diana Atieno Attis Enterprises Peanut Butter production Teso South Bumula 20,000.00
Caroline Anyango Eshiefwe goat enterprise Goats Butula Marachi East 20,000.00
Henry Kafuna Noble Kafuna poultry farm Poultry Nambale Nambale Township 15,000.00
Florence Diana Okondo Okondo Harvest Sorghum Farm Cereals Funyula-Samia Nangina 15,000.00
Hellen Egesa Ellehs Poultry Farm Poultry Matayos Matayos South 15,000.00
Jane Amai Mali Safi Poultry Dairy farm Teso North Malaba South 15,000.00
Beryl Omondi Omondi’s pig enterprise Pigs Bunyala Bunyala North 15,000.00
Fiona Odunga Fiona Chicken Enterprise Poultry Butula Marachi North 10,000.00
Lavender Kirori Bonnixlaf Soya Bean Teso South Chakol South 10,000.00
Collins Ochieng Balozi Poultry Poultry Butula Siunga 10,000.00
Yvonne Adaki Ada’s poultry Poultry Nambale Bukhayo Central 10,000.00
Belinda Ojiambo Farmers Best Dairy Enterprise Dairy Funyula-Samia Ageng’a Nanguba 10,000.00

Plusfarm will support the winners, ensuring they successfully integrate digital tools and scale their businesses.

Plusfarm is one of the partners offering advanced digital skills and employability for youth under the Strengthening Digital Communities Project. Others include Eldohub and Sotehub.

This project is led by KICTANet with support from the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme through the British High Commission in Nairobi, in collaboration with the Government of Kenya, the County Governments of Busia and Mandera and various partners.