Several processing technologies have enhanced the nutritional aspects of millet, yet its utilization as food remains confined to rural populations due to the absence of innovative processing methods.
According to Kikazi, she has successfully added value to millet, creating products acceptable to both rural and urban consumers.
Starting out
Founded in 2019, Kikazi Millet Flour exemplifies the journey from a small-scale cottage industry to a thriving enterprise through strategic partnerships and continuous learning.
Kikazi, the founder of Kikazi Millet Flour, was motivated by a mother in Fort Portal requiring quality millet flour for a diabetic patient. Hailing from the millet-rich region of Bushenyi, Kikazi recognized the potential and gradually initiated her millet flour venture on a small scale. Despite initial challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, she persisted.
With an initial investment of Shs3m from her savings, Kikazi procured millet grain from western Ugandan farmers. She meticulously sorted, cleaned, and packaged the grain. Initially, production was limited to a few 100kg bags, and Kikazi operated as a cottage industry, outsourcing the grinding machine and conducting packaging at her home in Kireka.
“But it would mess the house. Millet flour was everywhere and I was not very comfortable working from home,” she says.
With two employees in her rented workshop, Kikazi ensures top-quality flour, free from contaminants, is produced.
Training
Kikazi enrolled in a training program called Enhancing the Competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises in Uganda (ECOS), funded by GIZ. The two-year program, ending in October 2023, was implemented by the Agribusiness Development Centre (ADC) through their Business Accelerator Program (BAP) to support women entrepreneurs.
During the training, women entrepreneurs are exposed to various business management aspects. In April of this year, Kikazi received guidance from an ECOS expert, emphasizing the need for a solid business structure. This led her to ADC, where she embarked on a learning journey.
Under BAP guidance, Kikazi successfully registered her business, obtained a trademark and UNBS quality mark, and registered with Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). The program provided crucial insights into corporate governance, organization, and formal business registration.
“There are quite a number of things I thought I should implement, though I haven’t implemented them yet. What I did, for example, I shifted from home. I learned that proper record-keeping is really important. I also learned that I don’t need to do everything on my own,” says Kikazi.
BAP also emphasized the significance of digital marketing, leading her to establish an online presence for Kikazi.
