Over 30 single mothers within the age of 18 to 35 in Kisii County, located to the western part of Kenya are improving their livelihoods through the earnings from a banana value addition enterprise they started some few years ago to unlock their economic potentials.
The enterprise, Boka Eats Banana Processing Plant is one of the beneficiaries of Youth Enterprise Fund, a State Corporation under the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) development that seeks to support young Kenyans in business.
According to Sarah Onchangu, the enterprise’s Chief Executive Officer and one of its founders, the reason for opening the company was because they found a gap in banana farming as most farmers got bumper harvest but faced losses especially when there was less demand for the product.
“We have a group of 36 women of which 90 per cent are young mothers of age 18 to 35, from one of the leading banana producing Gusii region, whom we are training to start their own enterprises,” said Onchangu.
She says that Boka Eats was the formalisation of the Boka Youth Manufacturing Company, dealing with purchase of banana produce from farmers before processing them to make banana crisps, flour, bread, cakes, and wine among other products for sale.
Waste products are used to make animal feeds to minimise waste in a bid to ensure a clean environment.
Funding
Onchangu said the company started as a group of five members who received their first funding from the Youth Enterprise Fund to tune of Ksh100,000 startup loan.
“This, we paid gradually before it was increased to Ksh200,000 and later Ksh400,000 which has already been paid and now we are anticipating for Ksh800,000 by the end of this April,” said the CEO.
She added that banana flour is 100 per cent natural from organically grown bananas in the region with high nutrition value that is good especially for people with high blood pressure and lactating mothers given the produce has also been found to contain high fiber.
“We do not add any preservatives, and additional ingredients to our end products and they are gluten free something which customers coming,” said Onchangu.
“We appreciate the Youth Enterprise Fund for helping the women to better their lives and attain confidence to seek further support from the European Union, Kisii County Government, Women Enterprise Fund, Standard Chartered Bank and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund.”
Training
Mr. Elias Mabiria who is also one of the Boka Eats founders is a trainer educating the youth on the banana value addition process before any of them commences their own enterprises or work.
He says that despite their success in manufacturing new and unique products like banana bread, porridge floor and banana jam, they have challenges in establishing more markets for their commodities.
“In this,” said Mabiria, “we appeal to the government to help these women find a bigger market including for export to enable the organisation to expand and assist many more youths from the region and beyond.”
