Agricultural enablement, Kenya

Yakobo One Twenty-Seven, a farming community in Kenya, was initiated by Erich Lauener. It needed structured agricultural knowledge and practical business development support — to improve both yields and market access.

Land and willingness were there. What was missing was access to modern agricultural practice and a framework for bringing produce to market at viable prices.

This was not a commercial opportunity. It was a situation where help was needed and I had the capacity to give it. Responsibility does not end with paying clients — the same thinking applies here.

As Project Manager, I took on strategic and operational responsibility unpaid over several years: project strategy, business development, the business model and marketing, building structures, organising on-site travel, and working with local support.

The agricultural training itself was delivered by a trainer I evaluated and organised — I organised and assessed the training, I did not teach it myself.

The goal from the outset was gradual local self-sufficiency rather than lasting external dependency. The handover to local responsibility was prepared in 2025/26.

Over several years, more than three hundred training attendances took place. The community gained agricultural and entrepreneurial capabilities — since individuals could attend more than one training, this is a count of attendances, not a distinct count of different people.

My operational role ended on 22 May 2026. The engagement is complete; limited local support continues until at least the end of 2026.