Blandina Anyango Mukhwasi launched Kinango Farm Care, the first agrovet shop in the town of Kinango in Kenya in December 2009. Beginning with just Kshs. 35,000, three months later, he had a turnover of Kshs. 263,000. 

“I decided to start an agrovet in Kinango Market because despite the great agricultural potential in the area there was no agrovet. The nearest place where farmers that could access farm inputs was in Kwale Town, over 60 miles away,”  said Blandina.

Kinango Farm Care is still the only agrovet shop in the Kinango District, which has a population of over 194,332 people whom depend on mixed farming for livelihood. Blandina believes easy accessibility and increased awareness about farm inputs can help significantly harness the great agricultural potential of the region.

“I can attest to the fact that this new agrovet is indeed going to improve the lives of smallholder farmers. I am very grateful to CNFA for the agrodealer start-up program that indeed is making a great mark here in Kinango and beyond,” said Blandina.

Blandina has been contracted to supply farm inputs to various nongovernmental organizations and community-based organizations. What is still a challenge is access to stock.

“If I need stock, I have to travel all the way to Mombasa Town which is about 130Kms away. In addition to the unreliability of public transport system in this region coupled with poor infrastructure it becomes an extremely costly affair,” said Blandina.

In response to this challenge, CNFA is creating business linkages and networks with input suppliers in the region to increase business opportunities through new agrodealer start-ups and increased demand for inputs

“I hope that with continual support from CNFA/AGMARK particularly in facilitating demand creation activities and distribution networks, I don’t see any reason why this region should keep depending on relief food year after year,” said Blandina.