•Wilson Maina Mwangi’s Value-Addition Breakthrough Mitigates Post-Harvest Losses for Farmers
Mathioya, Murang’a County| In an innovative move to reduce post-harvest losses and maximize the economic potential of avocados, 30-year-old entrepreneur Wilson Maina Mwangi has pioneered a system that transforms raw avocados into high-value skincare oil.
His initiative has provided a sustainable solution for farmers while opening new market opportunities, including international exports.
From Avocado Trade to Value Addition
Mwangi began sourcing avocados from local farmers in 2018, primarily acting as a middleman for companies involved in buying and exporting the fruit.
This business was lucrative but faced challenges, particularly in 2023, when a significant drop in avocado supply disrupted operations.
Unable to meet the required export quantities, surplus fruits were discarded and used as animal feed, causing heavy losses for both farmers and Mwangi himself.
Reflecting on this setback, Mwangi explained:
“We experienced a challenge with a low supply of the fruit and could not meet the required quantity for exporting companies. We ended up discarding the avocados to pig farmers, leading to huge losses for both us and the farmers.”
Determined to find a solution, Mwangi sought ways to add value to the fruit, leading to his breakthrough discovery—cold-pressed avocado oil for skincare.
Building a Custom Avocado Oil Extraction Plant
With a vision to minimize waste and maximize profitability, Mwangi embarked on designing a customized oil-extracting plant.
Inspired by a vehicle prototype, he worked closely with skilled artisans from the Juakali industry, sketching out his idea and bringing it to life.
By late 2023, his manually driven oil-processing plant was operational, marking a new chapter for his agribusiness.
His venture, Ewiva Farm Limited, along with Wims Farm Enterprises, now engages in the buying and selling of avocados and macadamia nuts.
The businesses have created employment opportunities for over 30 young men, who are actively involved in sourcing avocados from farmers and establishing a traceability system to curb farm produce theft.
Organic Farming and Expanding Market Opportunities
To maintain high product quality, Mwangi encourages farmers to grow avocados organically and provides regular technical support to ensure adherence to best practices.
“We visit our farmers daily to offer technical assistance and ensure they do not compromise on the quality of our products,” he noted.
His value-added avocado oil has gained traction in both local and international markets, presenting an opportunity for expansion.
However, Mwangi acknowledges the limitations of his current labour-intensive, manually driven machine, expressing a strong desire to acquire a larger, automated processing plant to scale production and meet growing demand.
“My vision is to acquire a plant that can handle large-scale production because my current customised machine is quite labour-intensive and cannot meet the rapidly growing market demand.”
A Call to Action for Youth in Agribusiness
Beyond his business success, Mwangi is passionate about empowering young people to embrace farming and agribusiness as a path to economic growth.
He urges them to shift their focus from job-seeking to job creation, highlighting agriculture as a viable and profitable venture.
His story serves as an inspiration to many, demonstrating that innovation and value addition in agriculture can transform livelihoods, reduce waste, and create employment opportunities.
As Mwangi continues to refine his oil extraction process and scale up production, his journey underscores the untapped potential within Kenya’s agricultural sector—where entrepreneurs who embrace technology and innovation can drive economic transformation and global competitiveness.
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