Empowering smallholder farmers through sustainable agriculture and financial inclusion.
At Vermi-Farm Initiative, we are not just transforming agriculture — we are reshaping hope, dignity, and prosperity for Africa's most marginalized communities. We are a bold social enterprise committed to empowering smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, to overcome climate change and unreliable incomes.
Born from a deep understanding of the struggles faced by rural farming communities, Vermi-Farm Initiative integrates regenerative agriculture, circular economy principles, and inclusive finance to unlock climate-resilient livelihoods.
We envision an Africa where no farmer is left behind, where every household thrives on nutritious food, reliable incomes, and restored ecosystems. From market centers burdened by food waste to the remote corners of villages plagued by poor yields, we bring innovative, localized, and affordable solutions.
Regenerating lands, restoring food systems, securing dignified incomes
Our mission is to regenerate degraded lands, restore food systems, and secure dignified incomes for smallholder farmers. We harness the power of circular economy, community-led finance, and farmer-centered innovation to deliver solutions that go beyond survival — we enable thriving.
At Vermi-Farm Initiative, we take pride in designing climate-smart technologies that are not only affordable but also accessible to farmers earning less than $2 a day. Whether it's through our regenerative fertilizers, climate-controlled greenhouses, or community-based finance programs, every solution we deliver is built with farmers, for farmers.
We dream of an Africa where climate change is no longer a death sentence for farmers but a catalyst for innovation, resilience, and abundance. An Africa where youth and women lead climate-smart farms, where children grow up nourished, and where rural communities stand tall as stewards of the land.
Our vision is not only to regenerate farms but to restore dignity, ownership, and power back to those who feed us all — the smallholder farmers. We see a future where Vermi-Farm Initiative expands across Africa, planting seeds of hope, innovation, and prosperity wherever food insecurity persists.
Our story began not in boardrooms or lecture halls, but in the heart of Igoji, Kenya, where our Co-founder Royford Mutegi grew up watching his family and neighbours struggle to make a living from depleted soils, erratic rains, and volatile markets. What started as a personal journey became a movement, a mission to create a better way.
Motivated by these lived experiences, Royford, together with Diana Wairimu, Christine Ager supported by a network of over 33 supportive staff, run the Vermi-Farm Initiative with the belief that sustainable farming, community-driven finance, and technology could disrupt the status quo.
The initiative has since evolved into a beacon of resilience, turning food waste into gold, degraded soils into fertile fields, and vulnerable farmers into empowered entrepreneurs.
We are driven by five core values that shape every interaction, every project, and every decision we make:
We design alongside farmers, not for them.
We believe in healing the land while feeding communities.
We champion the leadership of women and youth.
We build community-owned solutions.
We boldly challenge traditional systems with empathy and humility.
At Vermi-Farm Initiative, we do not believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Our approach is holistic, adaptable, and farmer-led:
We collect food waste from urban markets and transform it into high-quality vermicompost and vermiliquid fertilizers.
A low-cost, climate-smart greenhouse that empowers farmers to grow high-value crops year-round.
A community-based banking system offering affordable loans, savings, and insurance through USSD-based Vermi-Farm Yetuu Wallet.
Farmer-centered trainings, model farms, and Village Champion mentorship programs.
This approach ensures that our solutions are embedded within the communities we serve and adaptable to their realities.
The Vermi-Farm DigiShamba is more than a greenhouse — it's a revolution in food production. Designed to be affordable and easy to manage, the DigiShamba uses electroculture and regenerative practices to boost crop yields while minimizing input costs.
Each DigiShamba serves as a model farm, training hub, and source of inspiration for surrounding farmers. With DigiShamba, farmers take back control over food production, breaking free from the cycles of dependency and climate unpredictability.
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In many rural communities, access to finance is a distant dream. The Vermi-Farm Adapt Finance Program bridges this gap by creating community-based banking groups that foster savings, microloans, and insurance.
Powered by the Vermi-Farm Wallet, a USSD mobile platform, this program brings banking to farmers' fingertips — no smartphones or internet required. This model not only strengthens financial literacy but also ensures that farmers have the capital to invest, expand, and protect their livelihoods.
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We designed the Vermi-Farm Wallet with a simple truth in mind — financial inclusion is a right, not a privilege. Built specifically for rural contexts, the Vermi-Farm Wallet enables smallholder farmers to:
It has become a vital tool for rural families, increasing financial resilience, trust, and independence.
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At the core of Vermi-Farm Initiative is a circular economy model where nothing goes to waste. Every ton of food waste we collect and recycle is a step toward regenerating soils, cutting carbon emissions, and reducing urban pollution.
Our farmers are not just consumers — they are producers, recyclers, and conservationists. We turn food waste into organic fertilizers, powering healthy soils, productive farms, and sustainable incomes. This model closes the loop between cities and farms, creating shared prosperity.
We believe that the future of African agriculture is female and youth-led. That's why Vermi-Farm prioritizes the leadership and empowerment of women and young people.
From Village Champions leading community groups to young women managing DigiShamba model farms, we intentionally create pathways for marginalized groups to lead and prosper. Our training programs and finance schemes are designed to break down the structural barriers holding them back.
At the Vermi-Farm Initiative, we are a team of young, innovative, creative and passionate professionals from diverse backgrounds who share a common commitment to transforming agriculture, advancing financial inclusion, and building sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers.
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Managing Director
Head of Programs
Head of Research and Product Development
Head of Operations and Finance
Be part of our journey to empower smallholder farmers and build climate-resilient communities.