Our story
Agrokenya is a Kenyan based agricultural organisation headquartered in Kakamega County and it started its operation for the first time in 2016. It’s an idea that started as a master thesis recommendation to advocate for competitive, informed and sustainable organic agriculture. Food security is a concern for everybody and that’s why at agrokenya we work closely and invest in smallholder farmers in western Kenya who farm on less than 2 hectares, to help them be able to produce enough food for their families and also improve their household incomes through selling the surplus products.
Agrokenya is a story narrated by a son of a peasant farmer who understands the challenges smallholder farmers in rural Kenya goes through in meeting their daily needs. We exist to change this narration and make the lives of smallholder farmers more hopeful and fulfilling. Our model is based on bridging the information, finance, market and agricultural technology gap that for a long time has been the greatest barrier for high agricultural productivity among rural smallholder farmers.
We believe in tailoring local based solutions for our farmer problems.
We strive to make the farmer the hero.
Who we are
Agrokenya is a registered NGO in Kenya under the NGOs Act. We deal with smallholder farmers. We train them and offer them with up to date information and innovative technologies to enable them produce more and earn a better living from farming. We work hand in hand with smallholder women farmers who are the majority farmers in the region.
What we offer
- We provide training to smallholder farmers on modern farming practices to enable them produce more with little resources available to them.
- We provide an interactive mobile phone supported platform where farmers can access and share agricultural related information and learn from other farmers.
- We train farmers on financial management and leadership skills to enable them plan and budget well for their finances.
- We help farmers access local markets cheaply for their agricultural products.
Our core values
Agrokenya focuses on improving the welfare of smallholder farmers. We have the moral duty to provide tailor made services to our farmers without favouritism. We respect our farmers’ sovereignty, confidentiality, and their right to informed consent. We treat them with total dignity, and with due respect for their cultural and religious beliefs. We are driven by the following ethos:
- Inovativeness
- Originality
- Independence
- Impartiality
- Accountability
- Service to Community
Our team
Prof. Dietmar Wikarski holds a Diploma and a PhD in Mathematics and is a retired Professor at Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany. He has expertise in Business Informatics, in particular Process Modelling and Management, Knowledge Management and Applications of Semantic Technology. He was the Department Coordinator for International Affairs and is engaged in promoting projects with developing countries. In particular, he is responsible leader of the DAAD funded project ProUniEdu-WeK (“Practice-oriented University Education in Western Kenya”)
Mr Kweyu is an Msc Financial Economics and Banking graduate from Dokuz Eylul University Turkey having done his research thesis from Brandenburg University of Applied science Germany as an Erasmus student on Organic Farming as a tool for Rural Development with special focus on smallholder women farmers. He is a CPA qualified professional with a Bachelors degree in Finance from Kenyatta University Kenya. He participated in the 2016 Global Forum for Food and Agriculture organised by the federal ministry of Food and Agriculture in Germany. He is also actively involved climate change issues and participated in 2015 COP21 conference in Paris (France). His expertise area include development economics, sustainable agriculture and climate change financing.
Josh is a Worimi man from the mid-North Coast of New South Wales and a Senior Consultant at PwC’s Indigenous Consulting. He is also Chair of NSW Young Farmers, and the founder of the Tractor Talks podcast. In 2015, Josh was recognised as one of the 25 most influential people in Australia’s not-for-profit sector and one of 50 Young Social Pioneers by the Foundation for Young Australians.
Amos Natwoli
Founding Member
Project Management
Mr Amos Natwoli is a Bachelor of commerce graduate from Kenyatta University and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K); currently pursuing his Master degree in Finance specializing in Investment at the University of Nairobi. He has over six years of progressive professional experience in Public, Private Corporates and NGOs. He worked with PwC-Ke as a Regional Project Finance Officer where he coordinated and provided advisory services to youth groups and local farmer organisations in Central Kenya in a project that was co-funded by Kenya government and World Bank.
He was also involved in training farmers in soft financial skills, budgeting and basic book keeping skills to help them handle their own projects and finances. He is currently working as a Finance officer with Old Mutual Group- EA. MR Natwoli has vast experience in project planning and implementation. He will help plan, implement and evaluate projects to ensure their fruitful success. Having an insurance background, Mr Natwoli will help negotiate affordable insurance products for small-scale farmers to help them mitigate loses a rising from adverse climatic conditions. Mr Natwoli is also a renowned farmer in Busia County.
Farida Makokha
Founding Member
Agribusiness
Farida Makokha is an agribusiness expert with a diploma in Agribusiness management from Bukura agricultural research institute with over 6 years of teaching experience. Formerly she worked for the ministry of Sports and youth affairs as an instructor for agribusiness and entrepreneurship management. She is currently a senior instructor with Kakamega County. She is a highly versatile and well motivated trainer.
Her focus areas include
- Floriculture
- Post harvest handling
- Small holder farming-Green House farming (Tomatoes, Onions, Kales and Related vegetables)
- Agricultural Project Planning and Analysis
- Extension Programme Planning.
- Agribusiness Law and Marketing.
- Organization and Management of Agric Extension
- Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
Her impeccable prowess and expertise is a great asset to Agrokenya family. Farida is married with two children.
Vivian Namayi
Rural capacity development expert, Agrokenya
Founding Member
Capacity Development
Vivian has a Diploma in Social Work and Community Development. She has vast knowledge and experience in community mobilization, awareness creation and development projects. She is compassionate and dedicated to her professional goals. She is a team player, very social and easily likeable. She has been a member of Soroptimist International, a worldwide professional women organization dedicated to making the lives of women and girls better, for five years now. She is actively involved in creating awareness, advocating for the rights of the girl child, providing mentorship and initiating projects that benefit the girl. Ms Namwalo is in charge of capacity building and empowerment activities for smallholder women farmers.
Ms Namwalo is also a proactive farmer
Edwin Chitechi
Founding Member
Education Training and Life Long Learning
Mr Chitechi is a trained teacher with over 11 years of teaching experience in high schools in Kenya. He holds a bachelors degree in Education Chemistry and Physics from Maseno University. Mr Chitechi is passionate about conservation agriculture and life long learning programs in agricultural value chain.
He is an active consultant of agriculture-related programs in high schools in Kakamega County and a member of the various community based agricultural groups. Above all, he is an authoritative and reliable farmer.