Uganda
India
Kenya
Sustainable Farming
Buying smarter through El Niño
When El Niño makes crops scarce and unpredictable, the processor that knows where the grain is, and moves it cheaply, keeps running. Technology is how Agrosahas aims to be that processor.
A hard year for raw materials
2026 is an El Niño year, and East African farming is feeling it. Kenya Met warned of a split year: dry conditions in mid-2026, then heavy rain and flood risk from October to December. FEWS NET reports Kenyan maize yield deficits of around 28%, with losses of up to 43% expected in high-potential counties, including Nakuru. In parts of Uganda, hot and dry conditions hurt production through August.
For a soybean and feed processor, this means less crop, wider price swings and longer trips to find supply. We felt it directly: our plant paused production when yellow maize ran short, and soybean supply has been our main constraint this season.
Where technology cuts the cost
1. We know where the crop is before we go looking. Every farmer on Digifarmer is mapped, with their crops and farm location. Combined with satellite data, this tells our buyers which areas have harvest to sell. That means fewer wasted trips and faster bulk buying.
2. Agents aggregate; trucks collect. Village agents gather produce from many small farmers into one pickup point. One truck trip to a full collection point costs far less than many trips to scattered farms.
3. Every truck is tracked. Our fleet system records each trip: distance, fuel, customer and load. Trackers and fuel sensors on our trucks show where fuel goes. We now position trucks in sourcing areas, for example in Lira, so they carry soybeans in and finish products out on the same route.
4. Stock is counted in the system, not on paper. Moving from spreadsheets to our Tillio ERP gives us livestock levels at each site. We see shortages early and buy before the plant stops, not after.
5. Farmers get a guaranteed buyer. Because we train and test the same farmers who sell to us, we can plan purchases with them ahead of the season. That builds loyalty in a year when buyers compete hard for every tonne.
What comes next
The October–December rains bring their own risk: damaged roads and post-harvest losses. We are using the same tools to plan routes, store stock safely and buy steadily rather than in panic.
Why this matters to investors
• Resilience. Climate shocks are now normal. Our model is built to keep the plant supplied through them.
• Lower cost per tonne. Data-led buying shared pickup points and tracked trucks all reduce the cost of getting crop to the factory.
• A two-way business. The farmer network secures supply for the plant, and the plant gives farmers a reliable market.
A hard year for raw materials
2026 is an El Niño year, and East African farming is feeling it. Kenya Met warned of a split year: dry conditions in mid-2026, then heavy rain and flood risk from October to December. FEWS NET reports Kenyan maize yield deficits of around 28%, with losses of up to 43% expected in high-potential counties, including Nakuru. In parts of Uganda, hot and dry conditions hurt production through August.
For a soybean and feed processor, this means less crop, wider price swings and longer trips to find supply. We felt it directly: our plant paused production when yellow maize ran short, and soybean supply has been our main constraint this season.
Where technology cuts the cost
1. We know where the crop is before we go looking. Every farmer on Digifarmer is mapped, with their crops and farm location. Combined with satellite data, this tells our buyers which areas have harvest to sell. That means fewer wasted trips and faster bulk buying.
2. Agents aggregate; trucks collect. Village agents gather produce from many small farmers into one pickup point. One truck trip to a full collection point costs far less than many trips to scattered farms.
3. Every truck is tracked. Our fleet system records each trip: distance, fuel, customer and load. Trackers and fuel sensors on our trucks show where fuel goes. We now position trucks in sourcing areas, for example in Lira, so they carry soybeans in and finish products out on the same route.
4. Stock is counted in the system, not on paper. Moving from spreadsheets to our Tillio ERP gives us livestock levels at each site. We see shortages early and buy before the plant stops, not after.
5. Farmers get a guaranteed buyer. Because we train and test the same farmers who sell to us, we can plan purchases with them ahead of the season. That builds loyalty in a year when buyers compete hard for every tonne.
What comes next
The October–December rains bring their own risk: damaged roads and post-harvest losses. We are using the same tools to plan routes, store stock safely and buy steadily rather than in panic.
Why this matters to investors
• Resilience. Climate shocks are now normal. Our model is built to keep the plant supplied through them.
• Lower cost per tonne. Data-led buying shared pickup points and tracked trucks all reduce the cost of getting crop to the factory.
• A two-way business. The farmer network secures supply for the plant, and the plant gives farmers a reliable market.
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