Vijana na AgriBiz National Competition intends to advance resilient and sustainable climate adaptation strategies in the African continent. This challenge hopes to open up new economic prospects for creative, youth-owned businesses and get a new generation of Kenyan youth and women to shift to a sustainable, climate-resilient future.

The Call for Application, launched in August 2022, received over 1000 applications across all counties in Kenya. The top 40 selected applicants were enrolled in a Bootcamp and later pitched before a panel of judges. The successful applicants competed for KES 1 million. 

Winner

Vincent Oduor – Aquaculture Barn Limited

Aquaculture company limited, based in Kisumu Town, was established on April 26, 2022. The core business is producing, aggregating, and selling Tilapia & Catfish fingerlings. They engage small and medium fish farmers in Kenya. They also use Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) technology that minimizes the use of space and maximizes production. As a young professional, Vincent is motivated to use knowledge, experiences, and expertise in Aquaculture to improve the local production of tilapia and catfish, the two most farmed and consumed fish species in Kenya. In addition, he hopes to reduce the importation of fish. He seeks to create wealth from fish farming and to encourage other young farmers to venture into fish farming. Winning the KES 1 million will enable Vincent to educate other fish farmers to specialize in breeding and egg harvesting, incubation and pre-nursing, sales and marketing, and customer care.

First Runners Up

Apetsi Ivi – Kwa Mushroom Farm Limited

Kwa Mushroom Farm produces fresh oyster mushroom that is nutritional and highly recommended for human consumption. They package their mushroom in fresh, dried, and powdered form and are looking into value addition into mushroom crisps and mushroom juice. Ms. Apetsi walked away with KES. 750,000 and plans to upscale to a mushroom resource center. To meet the market’s demand, she intends to target diverse clients’ preferences of ready-to-eat mushroom delicacies, crisps, juice, and dried and fresh mushrooms. She attributes the motivation behind her agribusiness to eradicating poverty and strengthening generations through a nutritious source of food and a reliable source of income. 

Second Runners Up

Benard Ojiambo – The Wonder Bee

The Wonder Bee is a registered company based in Busia that makes modern beehives and manages apiaries for farmers countrywide. They specialize in the value addition of beeswax, herbal soap, and beeswax body cream. They are addressing the climate change menace by educating farmers on modern bee-keeping practices and encouraging the community to plant trees. With a grant amounting to KES. 500,000 Mr. Ojiambo aims to mentor youths to take up agriculture and envision themselves as self-employed. This will address the issue of unemployment as youth will create jobs for themselves.