In today’s world, the place where most markets go is the internet. According to the Entrepreneurs council, 93% of business decisions start with a search engine. If you do not have a website, you only sell to 7% of your market. This means for enterprises that don’t have a website, their customer base is highly reduced. A website, therefore, remains a must-have tool for any business.
Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) is at the forefront of ensuring enterprises and businesses are propelled to achieve a sustainable future. One such program is the Green Growth Employment Programme (GGEP), which helps enterprises create sustainable jobs, livelihoods, and wealth while promoting climate mitigation and adaptation.
Malian Agribusiness Solutions is one of the beneficiaries of this program and has made tremendous steps since joining the program.
Located in Mbeere south, an arid-semi arid area, Malian Agribusiness focuses on developing smallholder farmers in Africa while conserving land and water. They produce sweet potatoes by growing and contracting other farmers to do the same and later buy from them. In addition, the enterprise adds value to the sweet potatoes by baking bread, cakes, doughnuts, producing sweet potato flour and supplying to customers who demand healthy, nutritious snacks.
Under the GGEP, KCIC has developed a business website for the enterprise which Linda Kamau, the CEO, affirms that it has helped her make tremendous advances in the business world. In addition, the enterprise has received business mentorship and advisory.
As if that is not enough, Linda will be heading to Germany for a nine-month sponsored internship focusing on sustainability. She credits the website as the platform where she showcased her interest in sustainability and was able to land a life-changing opportunity. The internship, she says, will tremendously offer her skills that will enhance her business.
Linda also adds that owning a business website has given her company lasting value. “I cannot compare what this business used to look like before we got the website. We have been able to interact with almost anyone worldwide,” she said.
“Nowadays, when I explain my product, I just give the client the link to the website to check for more information,” added Linda. “As a result, many questions from our clients can now be answered from the website. We can also display a variety of our products to make orders swiftly.”
Malian Agribusiness today enjoys a large customer base mainly through its website. The enterprise has also increased sales and has a broader client base.
In addition to the website, the enterprise has also received business mentorship from Kenya Climate Innovation Center Consulting Limited (KCL) that has enabled them to learn the importance of sustainability. On this front, the company is in the process of transitioning from diesel-powered engines to solar energy for their irrigation. According to Linda, this transition will help counter carbon emissions and also reduce fuel expenses in the organization. She adds that for them to reduce their carbon footprint, it is important to measure how much they pollute. “If you cannot measure it you cannot improve it. Measuring the amount of carbon we are emitting is important,” she said.
KCIC remains committed to lifting enterprises through mentorship and programmes aimed at transforming and accelerating them towards a sustainable future.
