Microfinance firm to help farmers acquire modern farming innovations

Nairobi; Kenya: Micro-finance firm Juhudi Kilimo plans to establish presence in all counties to reach more small scale farmers. The social enterprise that undertakes micro-finance business in conjunction with donors, in its five-year strategic plan targets to reach to more than 100,000 farmers.

The plan to be implemented in rural areas will enable farmers acquire wealth-generating assets such as dairy cows, poultry and farm equipment. The company’s General Manager Shadrack Mutunga said they will help small scale farmers adopt innovative technologies with a view of boosting food production. He said the number of farmers receiving financial and technical assistance from his organisation will be increased from the current 40,000 to more than 100,000 in the next five years.

“We will provide soft loans as well as training on modern farming methods and linking them to local and international markets,” said Mr Mutunga.

Solve challenges

The company, he said will source resources from organisations such as Acumen, Village Capital Solos, Grameen Foundation, Alterfin, Fefisol, Deutch Bank, Rockefeller foundation and Ford foundation. He said this yesterday in Nairobi during the launch of the Innovations in Agriculture Programme to honour local entrepreneurs for their efforts in agribusiness.

Two firms from seven nominees will be honoured with each receiving Sh4.5 million, granted by Juhudi Kilimo and Village capital, a US-based financial institution. Village Capital Executive Director Ross Baird observed that farmers need to be assisted to adopt new farming techniques to enable them apply innovative ideas to solve challenges they face.