In rural Kenya, women are the backbone of agriculture—responsible for the bulk of planting, weeding, harvesting, and even managing post-harvest tasks. Yet, despite their central role, many women lack access to the very resources they need to thrive: land ownership, agricultural tools, finance, and market opportunities. Youth, on the other hand, face high unemployment and limited access to productive assets, despite being innovative and adaptable.

At Lactone Investments, we believe that achieving food security and sustainable development is impossible without equality. That’s why we’ve embedded inclusivity and gender responsiveness into the core of our programming. Our women and youth-focused initiatives aim to shift the narrative—from marginalised labourers to empowered agripreneurs.

Through our inclusive cassava and sorghum programs, we reserve 60% and 20% of participation for women and youth, respectively, ensuring they gain access to clean planting materials, agronomic training, and mechanized post-harvest services. We also support women and youth-led farmer groups with market linkage, enabling them to sell collectively and earn more.

By improving incomes, easing labour through mechanization, and offering technical capacity building, we’re creating pathways for women and youth to gain a stronger voice in agricultural decision-making and claim greater economic independence.

Empowering women and youth isn’t just good for them—it’s essential for resilient households, thriving communities, and sustainable agriculture.