From soil to hope: agricultural innovation changing lives

Agriculture in Africa is being rewritten by a new generation of youth who are not only cultivating the land, but also sowing opportunity within their communities.
With over 237,000 jobs created and around 100,000 young people reached across 18 countries, the ENABLE Youth program is driving a quiet revolution—one that goes beyond economic returns to improve lives, strengthen social fabric, and promote equity.

Faith Timona Mumo, head of Iviani Farm Limited in Kenya, has led a transformation with deep community impact. Her company processes perishable fruits and vegetables—once lost to spoilage—into long-lasting products, reducing food waste and boosting income for local farmers. But her vision extends beyond business: she has built a network of technical support and training for hundreds of producers, promoting equal access to resources, particularly for women and youth.

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Mumo’s work also extends to aquaculture development in arid and semi-arid regions, where she has supported the installation of fish farms, distributed high-quality fingerlings, and promoted sustainable practices. In these vulnerable environments, her initiatives have become a reliable source of income and a viable livelihood alternative for families facing food insecurity and structural unemployment.

Another example is Washington Maina, who leads Centro Energy Limited. After rehabilitating his fish hatchery, his company now produces thousands of tilapia and African catfish fingerlings each month. This effort has enabled dozens of small-scale fish farmers to access reliable inputs and specialized training, generating employment and strengthening local value chains.

The support both entrepreneurs received through the ENABLE Youth program highlights how access to resources and mentorship empowers young people to drive structural change in their communities. The social impact is evident: rural poverty reduction, greater inclusion of women in productive activities, and the creation of collaborative networks among smallholders.

Beyond the numbers, these stories represent a new model of grassroots development—where agriculture becomes a powerful tool for rebuilding Africa’s social fabric. In the hands of its youth, Africa’s farmlands are no longer places of neglect but fertile grounds for dignity, innovation, and sustainable change.