Everlyn received training in financial recordkeeping, business planning, accessing and qualifying for credit, cash flow management, market research and analysis and marketing, sales and negotiation from CNFA’s Kenya Agrodealer Support Program, part of a $22 million initiative funded by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa to build a strong network of agrodealers in Africa.

“I opened the agrovet with the objective of tapping into the potential agricultural market, as well as helping the smallholder farmers in this area who have had serious problems accessing and affording farm inputs”, she adds.

Taking the next step: demand creation and output marketing

For Everlyn, building a successful shop meant not only providing high-quality inputs but also technical knowledge and marketing opportunities. She participated in numerous demand creation activities, including field days, exhibitions, demonstration plots and agricultural shows to bring the latest and best agricultural techniques to her clients.

In 2009, she decided expanded her business by taking advantage of the output marketing business opportunities being provided by CNFA. She applied for an enterprise matching grant to set up a maize milling facility, which would increase her income and provide opportunities to all her clients as well. CNFA and Everlyn each contributed roughly $6,300 for equipment, space and payroll for new employees.

In addition to manufacturing maize flour for regional sale and offering affordable warehousing services, Everlyn’s Bungoma West Millers buys and sells farmers’ produce, manufactures animal feeds, provides technical and market information to farmers, and markets farmers’ produce at competitive prices. Everlyn’s mills produces 20 bags of maize per hour, producing fine flour, called Ugali Bora, which has became very popular in the region. After receiving technical training from CNFA, she and her 10 employees process, package and market the flour themselves.

“The best thing about the maize milling project is that farmers can now confidently invest their money in purchase and use of farm inputs with the knowledge and assurance of a ready market for their produce”, says Everlyn.

In just a few months, Bungoma West has purchased $45,000 in bags of maize and sold it as flour for a profit of over $1,000. Crediting her success to the support and intervention of CNFA’s project activities, Everlyn is determined to see her region become the bread basket of Kenya. “We have the knowledge and skills. We have the technology and techniques, and now we have the opportunity.”