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Case Study – Arinifu Technologies

Kenya’s poultry farming industry is a cornerstone of the country’s agricultural economy, contributing 3% to the GDP. It is also deeply interwoven with social dynamics, as 84% of poultry farming is managed by women. One of the most critical stages in poultry farming- the brooding stage, has often been overlooked by interventions aimed at improving farming resilience.

The brooding stage is particularly sensitive to temperature fluctuations, making it highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change. As heat waves and cold spells become more frequent, traditional heating methods struggle to maintain optimal conditions, leading to high chick mortality and increased operational costs for farmers. Recognizing this gap, Arinifu Technologies offers an innovative solution tailored to the needs of Kenyan poultry farmers.

The Arinifu Technologies’ approach to innovating for resilience

Arinifu Technologies’ name is an amalgam of two Kiswahili words, ari and ubunifu. Together, this translates to “A desire to innovate”. The company was founded to empower poultry farmers by addressing the challenges of the brooding stage. Their flagship product, the Smart Brooder, ensures optimal temperatures during heat waves and cold spells. This innovation integrates with their Android App, Kuku Smart, which provides farmers with real-time data and actionable recommendations on feed, vaccination schedules, space requirements, and growth rates. Together, these tools are improving the resilience of farmers to climate impacts and reducing operational costs, fostering sustainable livelihoods.

Since its inception, Arinifu’s technology has reached over 1,000 farms across Kenya. Their solutions have also created over 250 jobs—both directly and indirectly—and have reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 2,500 tons by transitioning farmers from charcoal-based heating systems to more efficient alternatives.

The 2023 YouthADAPT Challenge empowering innovators

In December of 2023, Arinifu’s co-founder, Eddah Wanjiru, was selected as one of the 8 winners of the 2023 YouthADAPT Challenge, an annual competition jointly organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA). As a flagship initiative of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), the YouthADAPT Challenge aims to empower young African entrepreneurs to create jobs and innovate for climate adaptation.

The third edition of the YouthADAPT Challenge – the 2023 YouthADAPT Challenge – is supported by the Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF). It placed a special emphasis on empowering young African women entrepreneurs leveraging 4IR technology for climate adaptation.

Overcoming challenges and driving growth

Before joining the YouthADAPT Challenge, fundraising was one of the challenges the company faced, as some investors considered the company too early-stage to support, and in other cases the company was asked for match funding. These financial constraints limited their ability to expand their reach and sustain the research and development activities which are critical for competing in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Participating in the YouthADAPT Challenge provided Arinifu with the resources and mentorship needed to address these challenges. The grant funding enabled them to bolster their research and development efforts, ensuring their solutions remain competitive and sustainable. The mentorship they received also provided strategic insights for scaling their operations and navigating the complexities of the rapidly changing entrepreneurial and technology ecosystems.

Looking ahead, by 2028, Arinifu Technologies aims to:

  • Expand their reach to over 3,000 farms across Kenya and beyond.
  • Create more than 1,000 jobs in the agricultural and technology sectors.
  • Reduce CO2 emissions by 15,000 tons by helping farmers transition from charcoal-based systems to efficient alternatives.

Reflecting on their experience, Eddah Wanjiru remarked, “We hope that through the funds and mentorship we received from the 2023 YouthADAPT Challenge, we can ensure that our impact is felt even more. Sustainability should become a norm within the poultry sector, as we empower chicken farmers with adaptable solutions at their fingertips.”

To learn more about the Arinifu Technologies, please visit https://arinifu.com/

Additionally, watch this video to hear from Eddah Wanjiru, firsthand, about the company and what they have been able to achieve with the support from the 2023 YouthADAPT Challenge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8ovWN4PbZU