Janice Kawira: From Raw Milk to Agribusiness Leader
Dairy & Poultry Value Addition in Tharaka-Nithi County
Production Growth
Value addition and enterprise diversification achieved
Jobs Created
2+ jobs created
Key Highlight
Milk shop + incubator opened
Beneficiary
Janice Kawira
Type
Individual Agro MSME
Location
Kibumbu · Maara · Tharaka-Nithi
Story Collected By
RK-FINFA Tharaka-Nithi County Coach
Transformation Journey
BBefore RK-FINFA
Together with her husband, Morris Njoka, Janice produced raw milk and sold it to local milk users at low and unstable prices. The household relied on primary production with limited income growth and no value addition.
AAfter RK-FINFA
After the training, Janice accessed a loan which she used to open a milk and yoghurt shop in Kibumbu. She also invested in an incubator machine, offering hatching services and selling chicks to other farmers in bulk.
Key Result
Increased household income through value addition and enterprise diversification, improved market access, and strengthened Janice's role as a local agribusiness leader supporting other farmers.
Impact Results
Production
Value addition and enterprise diversification achieved
Employment
2+ jobs created
Market & Linkages
Agribusiness leader status in Kibumbu Ward
The Challenge
Janice's household was dependent on selling raw milk at unstable, low prices to local users. Without value addition capability, income was volatile and limited. The family had no access to formal financing and lacked the business skills to diversify into additional enterprises.
Main Challenges Faced
- 1Raw milk sold at low and unstable market prices
- 2No value addition capability — no processing or retail infrastructure
- 3Limited income growth from primary agricultural production only
- 4No access to formal credit for enterprise diversification
RK-FINFA Support Provided
RK-FINFA provided business and financial literacy training, access to affordable credit, and entrepreneurship support. The intervention enabled value addition, enterprise diversification, and expansion into agribusiness. Janice was linked to a financial institution that provided the loan to open her shop and acquire the incubator.
Training Areas
Photo Gallery
Beneficiary Demographics
1
Women
1
Youth
0
PWDs
1
Men
Gender, Youth & Inclusion
Female-led household enterprise demonstrates women's leadership in agribusiness transformation.
Janice's success has positioned her as a mentor and agribusiness role model for other women in Kibumbu.
Enterprise model supports other farmers — male and female — through chick supply and milk value chain.
"The training opened my eyes to business opportunities. With the loan, I now add value to my milk and support other farmers through chick production. My income is more stable than before."
Janice Kawira
Dairy & Poultry Entrepreneur, Maara – Tharaka-Nithi County
Sustainability Measures
- Milk and yoghurt shop provides consistent retail income independent of farmgate price fluctuations
- Incubator machine enables recurring revenue from hatching services
- Supply of chicks to other farmers builds community ecosystem and repeat business
- Enterprise diversification across two value chains reduces income risk
Future Outlook
- Scale yoghurt production for wider market distribution
- Expand incubation capacity to supply more farmers
- Mentor other women in dairy value addition
- Explore formal milk collection partnerships with processors