What is the name of your organization?
Tawifresh Kenya Limited
What is the name of your solution?
Tawi's Carbon Farming 2 Market
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Empowering smallholder farmers with carbon farming and connecting them to a sustainable market.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Nairobi, Kenya
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
KEN
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
Smallholder farmers in Kenya are the backbone of the rural economy, contributing significantly to national food security and employment. They produce over 75% of the country's agricultural output and employ more than 80% of Kenya’s rural workforce. However, this vital sector faces increasing threats with the most crucial impact being from climate change and limited market access. Increasing trends of erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and rising temperatures have reduced crop yields and increased food insecurity. According to the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Strategy, climate-related losses in agriculture amount to over 2% of GDP annually with the sector being the largest source of GHG emissions. Compounding these challenges is the lack of access to reliable markets. Studies show that less than 20% of smallholder farmers participate in formal markets, often forced to sell at low farm-gate prices due to middlemen exploitation and inadequate infrastructure. This reduces their income potential and discourages investment in sustainable farming practices. Addressing these challenges is critical for building climate resilience, improving rural livelihoods, and unlocking the full potential of Kenya’s agricultural sector.
What is your solution?
We have developed an innovative solution that addresses the dual challenge of climate vulnerability and lack of market access faced by smallholder farmers. Tawifresh’s B2B marketplace platform connects farmers directly to a consistent and viable market by aggregating fresh produce orders from a network of institutional buyers ensuring fair pricing and consistent income. Utilizing platform data, we create detailed profiles for farmers and buyers which enables us track production and market trends over time enabling smarter decisions around crop planning, pricing, and supply chain efficiency. This data insight has shaped our carbon farming approach, where we guide farmers to adopt regenerative practices that boost soil health and increase yields. Through this integrated model, farmers not only gain access to a reliable market but also build resilience to climate change.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our solution targets smallholder farmers in Kenya. Currently there are approximately 7.5 million smallholder farmers in Kenya. Despite their central role in national food production, only about 20% of these farmers have access to formal markets limiting their income earning potential. Additionally, they are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Tawifresh addresses these intersecting challenges by organizing farmers to adopt efficient production technologies and linking them to a ready market, ensuring stable prices and improved livelihoods. Beyond economic access, we empower farmers to adopt climate-smart practices such as carbon farming, which enhances soil health, increases productivity, and position them to benefit from the emerging carbon economy. To date Tawifresh has onboarded over 2000 farmers, demonstrating the viability and scalability of the model to impact more farmers.