NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 17 – In Kenya’s rural heartlands, smallholder farmers are often trapped in cycles of low productivity, unstable incomes, and limited market access. Nairobi-based social enterprise Kuza Biashara Limited is breaking that cycle with a new model that positions farming as entrepreneurship rather than subsistence.
At the core is Kuza’s “Mini MBA in Agriculture”, a 15-week programme designed to transform small-scale farmers into agripreneurs by equipping them with practical business and agricultural management skills. The curriculum covers financial literacy, regenerative farming methods, value-chain integration, and market-driven production strategies.
The model gained new momentum after Kuza Biashara was named among winners of the TRANSFORM 2025 East Africa Challenge, a competitive funding programme backed by Unilever, EY, and the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The grant will enable Kuza to scale its model across onion and coriander value chains in Kenya, training 5,000 farmers and 100 agripreneurs, with a target of 60 percent women participation.
Training beyond the classroom
Unlike conventional agricultural extension systems that rely on government officers, Kuza deploys youth agripreneurs to deliver training in villages. Each carries a solar-powered “digital backpack” with a tablet, projector, and speaker system to hold micro-sessions in local languages.
Farmers gather under trees, in halls, or in homesteads to watch short video lessons on soil health, pest control, and crop management. Agripreneurs then lead discussions and follow up with individual farmers to ensure lessons are applied. On average, one agripreneur supports about 200 farmers, creating a ripple effect that influences neighbouring households.
“We train youth not just to learn, but to earn. Their trust with farmers is what sustains the business,” said Sheena Rakundalia, Kuza’s Chief Growth Officer.
The Mini MBA reframes farming as a business. Farmers learn to calculate input-output ratios, plan around market cycles, and manage risks like entrepreneurs.
From subsistence to market-driven production
One of Kenya’s chronic agricultural challenges is the mismatch between production and demand. Farmers often plant crops based on seed availability or tradition, leading to market gluts and wastage when buyers reject produce.
Kuza solves this by linking its farmer network directly to buyers, offering real-time feedback on preferred varieties, quality, and volumes. Agripreneurs then guide farmers to align output with demand, reducing waste and boosting profitability.
Independent assessments show farmers in Kuza’s ecosystem have increased incomes by up to 50 percent, while 90 percent of households have reduced debt. The model has also proven effective in integrating women into commercial agriculture, reframing gender roles in rural economies.
Scaling through digital ecosystems
Kuza also operates the OneNetwork platform, a digital ecosystem linking farmers, agripreneurs, MSMEs, and service providers. It allows participants to access inputs, insurance, microfinance, and markets through a single interface.
According to Kuza, the platform has already facilitated $23 million in transactions and reached more than 250,000 farmers. With support from TRANSFORM 2025, those numbers are expected to grow as Kuza strengthens food system resilience and opens access to regional markets.
Global support for local innovation
TRANSFORM, a partnership led by Unilever, EY, and FCDO, identifies enterprises tackling social and environmental challenges. In its latest round, five organisations across East Africa were selected, spanning agribusiness, waste recycling, and renewable energy.
“At EY, we are proud to support Kuza’s mission to build inclusive, market-driven agricultural ecosystems,” said Hadijah Nannyomo, Partner at EY Kenya. “Our role in TRANSFORM is to help scale visionary enterprises by providing strategic insights, impact measurement frameworks, and financial structuring expertise.”
Unilever East Africa Corporate Communications Manager Pauline Masese added: “Kuza’s agripreneurship model aligns with our regenerative agriculture goals. By empowering youth and women to deliver market-relevant advisory services, Kuza is helping farmers grow what the market demands—sustainably.”
Youth at the centre of agri-tech
With youth unemployment persistently high despite agriculture employing over 70 percent of Kenya’s rural population, Kuza positions young people as digital facilitators and business leaders. Instead of migrating to cities, agripreneurs generate income while creating value locally.
A digitally enabled agricultural workforce, experts note, can strengthen food security, reduce import dependence, and contribute to national goals on job creation and climate resilience.
Expanding footprint
While rooted in Kenya, Kuza has expanded to Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, India, and Bangladesh. In Kenya, it operates in 40 counties in partnership with 26 county governments. The adaptability of the Mini MBA—tailored to crops like maize in some regions—has drawn interest from international development partners.
As one of its architects put it, Kuza’s philosophy is simple: farming is not charity or survival. It is enterprise.
Towards a resilient future
As Kenya grapples with climate change and food insecurity, approaches like Kuza’s Mini MBA are emerging as practical solutions. By reframing farming as business, integrating digital tools, and centring youth and women, the initiative is building a template for inclusive growth.
Its success, however, will depend on how quickly it expands beyond pilot projects and integrates into mainstream agricultural policy. With support from TRANSFORM and growing private-sector recognition, Kuza appears well-positioned to scale its impact.
Unilever’s Masese said the firm will continue supporting innovators like Kuza and Cinch under TRANSFORM, helping drive circular economies and sustainable agriculture. EY added that such collaborations are catalysing innovation by equipping farmers to align with consumer demand and sustainability priorities.
