For Farm Input Promotions Africa (FIPS Africa), AAA coached agro-dealers across Busia, Kakamega and Bungoma counties to build an organised, efficient supply chain around the FIPS Village-Based Advisor model. Coaching took place one-on-one at the agro-dealers’ own premises.
What the coaching found
The findings were blunt and useful. Over 78% of the agro-dealers had never been through an incubation or mentorship programme, and more than half had never applied for funding.
Coaching surfaced gaps in financial management, inventory control, regulatory compliance and marketing. In several cases it also revealed business plans that did not accurately describe the business — a problem that would have cost the agro-dealers credibility with any funder.
A business plan is a conversation, not a document. Sitting down with the numbers is what turns it into a tool the business and its funders can rely on.
