With the increase in population and the rural urban migration, the Kenyan urban population is on the increase. It is estimated that half of the Kenyan population will be living in urban areas by 2050. The challenge of food production cost, poor infrastructure and decrease in agricultural land in urban and peri urban areas is the main reason why food cost in the urban areas is on the rise. According to the Kenya Population and Housing census 2019, Nairobi has a population of 4.4M people all living in urban centres.
Kenya’s food production is rainfed and highly affected by weather changes and climate change. The food production per acre is on the decline and post-harvest waste is high due to poor agriculture technology and infrastructure to the markets. Lack of market information limit the farmer knowledge of what to grow, hence resulting to influx of certain crops in certain seasons and areas.
Value addition for perishable food crops at the point of production or market level to enhance shelf life of the produce is critical, yet it should not make the cost of food high to the end user. Assured market for the farmer, access to information and availability of food at the closest proximity to the end user is important. With the increase in urban population, this provides a market for healthy food at affordable prices and distance.
With youth and women population accounting for 65% of the total workforce and coupled with an unemployment rate of 25% (KIPPRA, 2017), it’s likely to drive Nairobi’s economic growth in the coming years in addition to providing affordable healthy food. First, for themselves and consequently for the bigger population. Engaging the populations in farming activities will be the backbone of that effort. Achieving the universal Sustainable Development Goals requires more and high-quality products. A key first step in exploiting the opportunities is recognizing youth and women as beneficiaries, collaborators and leaders in farming without prejudice that holds the promise of greater benefits for
Greenwells Organics is a Kenyan startup that focuses on developing healthy foods value chain with aim of availing high nutritive foods to urban population in Nairobi at affordable cost and within close proximity. The company uses an outgrower approach for food production focusing peri-urban food producers especially women within the 50KM radius of Nairobi city. Greenwells Organics processes the foods to ready to eat level and packages it into high quality packaging. The food is delivered to customers in offices and homes using outsourced delivery system (Uber Eats). The well-developed mobile money system in Kenya has enabled the company to automate its payment and accounting system. With the increasing customer base Greenwells Organics is seeking support to increase its farmer groups from the current 1 to 10 in the next 3 years and also develop its own mobile application for the customers to order their favourite product. This will enhance its planning and customer services which is not possible on the third party
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