0
0
Africa’s leading Food Systems Institituion, AGRA in partnership with Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya (FPCK) have joined hands to explore opportunities to support Women in Agribusiness.
At an event in Nairobi, which brought together over 300 women in agribusiness, AGRA Vice President, Programs Delivery Prof. Hamadi Boga, said that “Women empowerment programmes requires strong inclusive policies and systems.” He added that the newly revitalized Gender Inclusive & Youth division is set to empower women through wealth creation, which will be attained through Value4Her platform.
Women make up 80% of agriculture laborforce. Enhancing women’s equitable access to agricultural resources and entrepreneurial benefits lies at the heart of the gender and inclusivity strategy of AGRA.
In a recent study, commissioned by AGRA and CGIAR Gender Impact, it revealed that women in food systems can do more than cook meals and yield hoes. Women can head up businesses, multiply their incomes and make choices for themselves—especially with the help of other women.
It is against this background that AGRA and her partner is determined to increase opportunities for women in agri-business through Value4Her initiative.
“One key insight is that while women’s economic empowerment through entrepreneurship in food systems is well established, we now see that collective action and women-to-women networks help women circumvent multiple barriers they face in developing successful enterprises,” said Nana Yaa Amoah, Director Gender Inclusive and Youth at AGRA.
Ms Amoah added, “While women’s access to financial services is getting better, there is a long way to go. The women rely significantly on their own wages and personal savings, and sources like self-help groups and microfinance institutions, to finance their businesses. Facilitating better access to formal finance sources, such as banks, and helping women meet criteria for creditworthiness is important for them to further grow their businesses. However, the women have expressed a low appetite for risk, and their access to and use of risk-management products in agri-businesses is nascent.”
AGRA Kenya’s strategy aligns with these needs by focusing on supporting women-led agribusinesses, promoting economic empowerment, and driving job creation. Through strategic program design and delivery, AGRA Kenya emphasizes sustainable farming, inclusive finance, and environmental and social management systems (ESMS) that prioritize women. AGRA is actively establishing partnerships and signing collaborative MOUs with women’s networks to enhance impact and scale.
Currently, AGRA Kenya is engaged in multiple counties, including Embu, Meru, Laikipia, and Kitui, where 60-70% of the beneficiaries and Village-Based Advisors (VBAs) are women, highlighting a strong commitment to gender inclusion.
Today, women’s participation in agriculture and agribusiness spans various segments, including primary production, aggregation, processing, marketing, retail, export, and value addition, driving innovation, job creation, and making agriculture more attractive. Despite the progress, barriers to accessing markets and finance remain significant constraints.
To address these pressing challenges, AGRA, through its VALUE4HER initiative, and the Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya are convening a women-led dialogue focused on empowering women in agribusiness. This forum celebrates and acknowledge the vital contributions of women, while also providing a platform for them to share their experiences, highlight challenges, and advocate for policy actions that address critical issues such as access to markets, finance, and climate resilience. By centering on advocacy and policy dialogue, this convening aims to amplify women’s voices, unlock opportunities, and drive meaningful change in support of women-led agribusinesses.
