Empowering Youth with Financial Access: Duncan Mollo’s Agribusiness Journey in Migori County
By Shadrack Nyakoe
Young men and women across Kenya are increasingly gaining access to affordable financial products and services, opening up new economic opportunities.
Duncan Mollo, a 26-year-old agripreneur from Suna East Sub-County in Migori, is a shining example of how financial support can drive success in agribusiness.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health from Maseno University in 2022, Duncan completed internships and volunteer work before deciding to pursue a career in agribusiness. His focus has been 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.
Using his own capital, Duncan began cultivating soybeans on his family’s land, producing six to seven bags per acre to meet high regional demand. He also started a poultry farming business, but limited capital soon became a significant barrier to expansion.
In August 2023, Duncan joined the Resilient Agriculture that Works for Young People (RAY) programme, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
This program provided him with training in business development, financial literacy, market linkages, mentorship, gender, and regenerative agriculture.
Through connections made by RAY, Duncan secured a loan of Ksh. 1,273,650 from the African Finance Corporation (AFC).
This funding allowed him to expand his poultry business significantly, enabling him to rear an average of 1,200 chickens and employ two young workers on his farm.
“My strong business plan convinced AFC to invest in my enterprise. I thank the RAY project for their support and look forward to applying for more affordable credit to grow my business further,” Duncan says.
As part of his expansion strategy, Duncan 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 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.
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