Young men and women across Kenya are increasingly accessing and utilizing affordable financial products and services, enabling them to tap into new economic opportunities. One such example is Duncan Mollo, a 26-year-old agripreneur from Suna East Sub-County in Migori, who has successfully harnessed financial support to grow his agribusiness ventures.
Duncan Mollo: Tapping Agribusiness Opportunities in Migori County
Duncan Mollo graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health from Maseno University in 2022. After completing internships and volunteer work in various organizations, he decided to pursue a career in agribusiness, focusing on poultry and soybean farming.
“I ventured into agribusiness because I had a passion for self-employment and wanted to create job opportunities for other young people and marginalized individuals within our community,” Duncan shares.
Starting with his own capital, Duncan began cultivating soybeans on his family’s land, producing six to seven bags per acre to meet the high demand in the region. He also started a poultry farming business. However, limited capital posed a significant challenge to expanding his business.
In August 2023, Duncan joined the Resilient Agriculture that Works for Young People (RAY) programme in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, which offered him a unique opportunity to receive training in business development, financial literacy, market linkages, mentorship, gender, and regenerative agriculture.
Through the linkages facilitated by RAY, Duncan was able to apply for and secure a loan of Ksh. 1,273,650 from the African Finance Corporation (AFC). This funding allowed him to significantly expand his poultry business, enabling him to rear an average of 1,200 chickens and employ two young workers on his farm.
“My strong business plan persuaded AFC to have confidence in my enterprise and provide the capital. I thank the RAY project for the support. I also look forward to applying for affordable credit from other sources to grow my business further,” Duncan says.
As part of his expansion strategy, Duncan has leased 3.5 acres of land for soybean and poultry production. The RAY programme’s training ensured that he secured the lease with a formal agreement. To further reduce production costs, Duncan processes some of his soybean crop into poultry feed and is exploring the potential of rearing Black Soldier Flies (BSF) for feed, inspired by his peers in the RAY programme. He has also adopted composting techniques to minimize the need for costly fertilizers.
Drawing from his experience and skills in agripreneurship, Duncan mentors’fellow young people in the RAY programme, guiding them to avoid common pitfalls. He encourages his peers to fully commit to their agribusiness ventures. “I urge fellow young people in agribusiness to give it their best. From my experience, farming pays well if done right. It’s an opportunity young people can’t ignore,” he advises.
Duncan Mollo’s story exemplifies how access to affordable financial services and targeted training can empower young people to succeed in agribusiness. With continued support and mentorship, more young Kenyans like Duncan are poised to transform their communities through sustainable agricultural practices and innovative entrepreneurship.