Kenya

Using digital platforms to export Kenya's organic products worldwide

Zilpah Khasiro of Kenya's Joycil Enterprise shares her experience of using digital platforms to export Kenya's organic agricultural products to customers worldwide.


Zilpah Khasiro of Kenya's Joycil Enterprise

Can you tell us a bit about your agro-processing business?

My business was originally an agri-business truck dealing with organic food. We offer various products, such as groundnuts, millet and cassava, sourced locally from farmers. We also offer raw, roasted and coated peanut flour.

What are some of the challenges you have faced?

As a start- up company, I have faced a lot of challenges in setting up a physical store and accessing financial support from banks. I have also struggled with ensuring sound packaging of our products.

What was the role of development partners?

I got support from eTrade Alliance, a public-private partnership supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which helps small companies, like mine, access international markets through e-commerce platforms.

eTrade Alliance provided my team with crucial guidance on establishing our online presence across multiple platforms and social media channels. This visibility has led to sales to customers in the United States and other countries. I also learnt a lot about how to package and present my products.

What was the result?

The use of e-commerce platforms has significantly increased my visibility globally, attracting customers from Egypt, Italy, Pakistan and the United States. We are now changing our name from Joycil Enterprise to Joycil Foods because we are now a lot more focused.

What are some of your plans?

We are planning to expand into mushroom farming due to the high demand, both locally and internationally. We would also like to establish a milling factory to enhance packaging and distribution of our products and to acquire land to do more farming, both of which contribute to community employment.