In the heart of Busia County, where Kenya meets Uganda, a group of determined women from the Busia Women Cross-Border Traders SACCO are reshaping the future of agribusiness through milling, value addition, and nutrition-focused products. Their flagship innovation, Silai Boost Flour, is already transforming diets, incomes, and local trade dynamics.
Backed by equipment support from TradeMark Africa, and driven by their own investment in land and facilities, the women have moved beyond trading to full-scale food processing. Today, Silai Boost Flour is not just a product but a story of resilience, enterprise, and cross-border opportunity.
Also Read: Resilient Women Traders at the Busia Border
Backed by equipment support from TradeMark Africa, and driven by their own investment in land and facilities, the women have moved beyond trading to full-scale food processing. Today, Silai Boost Flour is not just a product but a story of resilience, enterprise, and cross-border opportunity.
Also Read: Resilient Women Traders at the Busia Border
From Raw Crops to Nutrient-Rich Flour
The journey begins with local crops—cassava, finger millet, pumpkin, and soya—sourced from SACCO members and farmers as far as Malaba (Kenya) and Uganda. The women meticulously handle every stage: peeling, chipping, solar drying, weighing, and finally, milling.
Each ingredient is blended in precise formulations, producing a nutrient-rich flour that:
Each ingredient is blended in precise formulations, producing a nutrient-rich flour that:
- Builds immunity in children and adults
- Supports cancer prevention and management (including prostate health in men)
- Assists in weight loss and healthy weight management
After milling, the flour is sealed, labeled, and packaged for sale. With a shelf life of six months, Silai Boost Flour is now stocked in local shops, a mini-supermarket in town, and is even crossing the border into Uganda through the networks of SACCO members.
Challenges and Opportunities in Scaling Flour Distribution
On a good month, the SACCO sells 200 bags of flour, and even in slower months, they manage at least 150. Each pack retails between KES 250 and KES 300, depending on size and formulation.
Marketing, however, remains both their biggest challenge and opportunity. Currently, members sell directly to their customers or through small outlets, but the SACCO is working to expand visibility through:
Marketing, however, remains both their biggest challenge and opportunity. Currently, members sell directly to their customers or through small outlets, but the SACCO is working to expand visibility through:
- Recruiting youth marketers who can leverage digital platforms like Facebook and TikTok to boost sales.
- Exploring partnerships with larger supermarkets.
- Engaging cross-border traders to widen regional distribution.
Women-Owned, Women-Run, Women-Led Agribusiness
The SACCO operates with a unique ownership model. Members collectively raised KES 2.4 million to purchase land for the plant, partly through contributions and partly via a bank loan. With machinery and a solar dryer provided by TradeMark Africa, the women handle all operations themselves.
The only external employee is a night watchman; otherwise, every stage from peeling cassava to sealing packets is managed by SACCO members. Income generated from flour sales is reinvested and shared at year-end among contributors.
The only external employee is a night watchman; otherwise, every stage from peeling cassava to sealing packets is managed by SACCO members. Income generated from flour sales is reinvested and shared at year-end among contributors.
Fish Value Addition and Poultry Enterprises
Silai Boost Flour is just the beginning. The women have plans to:
These plans reflect a long-term vision to not only to sustain the SACCO, but to position Busia as a hub for agro-processing and healthy food innovations.
- Expand milling capacity (currently capped at 100kgs/day).
- Venture into fish value addition, including omena (sardines) and Obambo (sun-dried tilapia).
- Establish poultry enterprises with a hatchery for local egg producers.
These plans reflect a long-term vision to not only to sustain the SACCO, but to position Busia as a hub for agro-processing and healthy food innovations.
What Support Do They Need?
While their success is evident, the women are clear about their needs for scaling:
AGMARK’s role in linking traders to finance, markets, and training remains vital. With the right ecosystem of support, the Busia SACCO women could quickly expand production and regional market reach.
- Bigger milling machinery to increase daily capacity and meet growing demand.
- Financial linkages to banks and credit institutions for affordable loans.
- Marketing training and partnerships to position Silai Boost Flour as a trusted, healthy brand across East Africa.
AGMARK’s role in linking traders to finance, markets, and training remains vital. With the right ecosystem of support, the Busia SACCO women could quickly expand production and regional market reach.
The Bigger Picture
Silai Boost Flour represents more than just a food product. It is proof that value addition at the grassroots level works to improve incomes, promote nutrition, and empower women traders to move up the agribusiness value chain.
In the words of one SACCO member:
In the words of one SACCO member:
“We wanted to understand the process first for ourselves. Now, with bigger machines and support in marketing, we can feed more families, employ more youth, and trade across more borders.”The Busia women are not just feeding communities but are building a healthier, more resilient future for cross-border trade and agribusiness in East Africa.
