Agricultural Social Enterprise Helps Kenyan Farmers Increase Crop Yields Through Soil Analysis
East Africa is one of the most food-insecure regions in the world. In Kenya, most people live in areas prone to food shortages, and an estimated 40% of the population is undernourished. An estimated 500 million smallholder farmers in Kenya rely on agricultural products as their primary livelihood. However, many struggle to successfully produce productive crops with high yields.[1]
UjuziKilimo, a social enterprise operating in the Kisii and Nyamira regions of Kenya, works to increase the productivity of smallholder farmers by providing fast, affordable, and easy-to-understand soil analysis information.
UjuziKilimo uses soil sensor technology that automatically sends individual farmers’ soil composition data to an analysis center via SMS. After the analysis is completed, the farmers receive information, via SMS or a mobile application, about which crops, fertilizers, and pest control products to use for their particular soil.
In addition, UjuziKilimo provides farmers with farm management tips and information about expected weather patterns. This information helps farmers make informed decisions about how to manage their crops, increasing both product yield and profit.
Local Man Returns Home to Help his Community
UjuziKilimo founder Dickson Ayuka grew up in a community of farmers in rural Kenya. He is currently studying civil engineering, has a certificate in social entrepreneurship, and has eight years of experience in the agricultural field.
Returning to his community, he saw hardworking local farmers consistently producing low yields and sought the root of the problem. He discovered that farmers in rural areas cannot afford or do not know about commercial soil testing services that would help them farm more effectively.
Dickson teamed up with Brian Bosire, an electronic and computer engineering student, and Henry Ohanga, a computer scientist, to create a business that would make soil testing available to small-scale, rural farmers. Dickson oversees operations and manages the business side of UjuziKilimo, Brian is the lead hardware designer, and Henry is the lead software developer.
Soil Testing Yields Instant Benefits for Farmers and the Community
After receiving $20,000 of funding from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and attending the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program, UjuziKilimo launched a pilot program in 2015 to assess market potential in Kenya and test the soil sensor prototype. Farmers who participated in the program saw productivity increase by 45%. For example, maize yields rose from 18 to 26 bags per acre as a direct result of the information about disease, weather, and farming practices provided by UjuziKilimo.
In addition to the pilot program, UjuziKilimo established two model farms that employ and are currently educating 75 high school graduates on modern farming practices.
In October 2015, Dickson attended a GSBI® Boost program from Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship’s Global Social Benefit Institute (GSBI). The GSBI Boost program, made possible through the support of eBay Foundation, was hosted by Child and Youth Finance International (CYFI) and Ye! Community, in Amsterdam.
During the GSBI Boost program, Dickson:
· Worked closely with mentors to develop UjuziKilimo’s financial model, business plan, and value chain
· Used the “what if” analysis template in the GSBI Boost financial planning tool to determine how many customers UjuziKilimo would need to become cash positive at different price points
· Fine-tuned his pitch and adjusted his business model
· Assessed the social impact and reach of UjuziKilimo, discovering that, in addition to farmers, beneficiaries include associated service providers and fertilizer suppliers and farmers’ families, who use the greater livelihoods to improve healthcare and schooling for their children
Dickson was recently accepted into the 2016 GSBI Online program at Miller Center, and he looks forward to UjuziKilimo’s continued growth and partnership with the GSBI and the Ye! Community.
[1] Jeremiah Grossman and Michael Tarazi. Serving Smallholder Farmers: Recent Developments in Digital Finance. World Bank Group, 2014.
Website: www.ujuzikilimo.com
