Inclusive Agribusiness
Bidco Africa believes in inclusive growth, consequently it is offering small scale farmers opportunities for partnership in oilseed production (soybeans and sunflower).
The company currently works with 30,000 farmers across East Africa who it with supply oil seeds (soya beans and sunflower) for use in manufacturing its fats and edible oil products.
Bidco Africa offers farmers a ready market for their products at competitive market prices, and in turn the company secures the raw materials needed to meet market demand. This arrangement has helped to raise the living standards of small-scale farmers by assuring them of a sustainable and ready market for their produce.
In addition, Bidco Africa trains farmers in the production of oil seeds, which improves their yields and ultimately increases their incomes.
The company is also contracting farmers to grow and supply bamboo to power its factories in Thika and Ruiru. The firm, with a presence in 16 countries, uses more than 200 tonnes of macadamia and coffee husks per month to generate power. The supply of macadamia and coffee husks is, however, erratic and unsustainable. The company estimates it will require 6,000 tonnes a month to meet its energy needs.
Bidco Africa has also entered into strategic partnerships to support thousands of youth entrepreneurs including women take advantage of agri-business opportunities.
In its partnership with KCB Foundation at least 1,000 youth will access guaranteed oil seed markets. KCB Foundation will do the technical capacity building and Bidco will provide a guaranteed market for the entrepreneurs’ products in its sunflower and soya value chains.
Bidco is also in partnership with the African Women Entrepreneurship Program AWEP and the Vision 2030 Youth Entrepreneurship Associates.
AWEP has a membership of 30,000 who will be mobilized to plant oil seeds for Bidco while the Vision 2030 group will engage 10,000 of their members every year for the next five years towards oil seeds production.
Working in partnership with FAO, Bidco will facilitate Vision 2030 members in Laikipia and Tharaka Nithi counties grow oil seeds and supply to them in an off take agreement.
