In Musoli village, Luanda Sub-county, Vihiga County, Kenya, Concepter Makokha is a happy and determined woman. As a single mother of 3 children, she faced immense financial struggles after the passing of her husband. However, in October 2024, her life took a significant turning point when she participated in a one-week intensive training organized by Seed Savers Network in partnership with the Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT at the KIRDI Kisumu Branch.
The training equipped her with knowledge and practical skills, focusing on product diversification, value addition of priority crops including TLVs, red sorghum, finger millet, yellow maize, cassava, groundnuts and soya beans, food labeling and barcoding, legal compliance with KEBS and marketing strategies.
"After the training, I saw an opportunity to expand my 'Uji Power' business," Concepter shares. "Previously, I made porridge using only sorghum, millet and cassava. But through the training, I learned that I could enhance my recipe by adding groundnuts, soya, simsim, arrowroots, sweet potatoes and pumpkin seeds—ingredients known for their immunity boosting properties. Now I attract more customers than before."
For every jerrican of porridge she sells, she earns approximately Ksh1,000. Through her growing business, she has been able to support her daughter's university education—an achievement she takes great pride in.
Concepter's business has grown beyond daily sales; she now offers catering services at community events, providing porridge in various flavors. Her reputation as a skilled agro-entrepreneur was noticeable during the National Seed Fair held in October.
Concepter's story highlights the impact of empowering women in agriculture through training and support. She has turned adversity into opportunity, providing not only for her family but also nourishing her community with healthy, locally produced food.