Elizabeth Angeo, a 31-year-old agripreneur from Vihiga County, exemplifies resilience in agriculture. After graduating in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, she faced challenges securing formal employment.
In 2019, she shifted her focus to agribusiness, seeking a sustainable livelihood and a means to support her family. Today, Elizabeth is a successful entrepreneur in poultry, African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) and dairy. She employs four people.
“I have never regretted that decision to focus on agribusiness. I am a proud young mother, and my greatest motivation is earning from my business while creating jobs for others,” she says.
Among the challenges she faced early on was the lack of access to capital, land and knowledge to grow her business. In June 2023, she joined the Resilient Agriculture that Works for Young People (RAY) Project by the Mastercard Foundation in partnership with Practical Action. She received training in business management, mentorship, gender and safeguarding, financial literacy, and regenerative agriculture.
Thanks to linkages to financial institutions, she secured a loan of KES. 400,000 from Jiinue 4G Capital. She used it expand her poultry enterprise. She also bought a solar-powered incubator with a 1056-egg capacity after RAY linked her to Farm Master, an equipment supplier.
Moreover, linkages to market actors such as Advanta, Sanergy, and Liam Farm have enabled her to access high-quality fertilized poultry eggs, certified ALV seeds and organic fertilizers. The RAY project has also linked her to hotels and other institutions where she supplies her produce.
To boost production and reduce costs, Elizabeth uses various regenerative agriculture methods. For example, she grows Azolla and rears Black Soldier Flies (BSF) to generate affordable animal feeds. She also practices organic farming, mulching, raised beds, conical gardening and composting. “I thank the RAY Project for empowering me to take my agribusiness to the next level,” she beams.
Elizabeth is a source of inspiration, especially for young women in her community. She mentors twelve young people, including eight young women and four men, encouraging them to pursue opportunities in agribusiness. Passionate about gender equality and empowerment, she also advocates for social justice, ensuring women and marginalized young men actively participate in community development.
“I yearn for that day when my enterprise will be a strong empire with more than 30 employees. I also yearn for a society where women have no limiting factors in matters agriculture hence succeed in agribusiness that brings about dignified employment,” she says