Aston Lukoye
Masello Mokhoro, a young go-getter lady, embraced the attitude of an entrepreneur while her friends were being carefree and running after elusive white-collar jobs. From selling soap with her grandma to selling chocolates and snacks at primary school, she has always helped her family get money.
Tenacity and Hardwork
She had to take on a lot of responsibility much earlier than typical children as an only child of a single mother who worked as a seasonal farmworker.
Her enterprising zeal has prompted her to start her agri-business, Starlicious Enterprises, which raises broiler chickens and pigs for the meat industry.
Her company’s name is “innovatively feminine,” but she picked it on purpose to send a strong message that a lady can be just as competent in farming as anybody else.
Why Looking for a Job was not Her Option
When asked why she chose to establish her firm after finishing her education, Mokhoro says that her difficulty as a woman trying to break into a crowded employment pool was the driving reason behind her choice to go it alone.
She decided to find her means of survival even before she completed her undergraduate studies.
“I had to obtain practical experience on a farm for a whole year in my second year of study, but getting a farm placement as a woman was a major issue.” Even when I was able to secure a position, I was frequently advised to stay in the kitchen,” she continues.
“That’s when I realized I would be dealing with the same types of problems once I’d finished my education like I had to start seeking a job after college.” As a result, I decided to create my own company. In addition, I hoped to be able to support my family with my university stipend while I was studying.
Mokhoro says she opted to work with pigs and hens because they are intensively grown and have limited access to land. With a small capital, she saw herself capable of establishing a business venture. She participated in a business concept workshop at university and was picked as one of the lucky winners, which helped Starlicious Enterprises get off the ground.
Grand Awards and Prizes
Her determination to overcome the challenges she faces continues to yield fruit.
Mokhoro recently received the thrilling news that she had been chosen as one of the top 26 Anzisha Prize fellows, out of hundreds of applicants from around Africa.
She won about KES 4.5 million in cash and services to help her start a business.
The fellowship prize is given to young entrepreneurs aged 15 to 22 who will participate in a three-year fellowship program in which they will gain important business skills.
From these, newbies in agribusiness should learn to:
First, have a strong desire to succeed in that endeavour; it will help to motivate you along the road.
Secondly, conduct a thorough study on the cost, market, estimated returns, and losses.
Thirdly, always begin with a modest step.
Fourthly, maintain accurate and up-to-date records.
Last but not least, keep an optimistic attitude.
She does, however, point out that starting her own company did not prevent her from dealing with the obstacles she experienced as a woman in the agriculture industry, and that it was still difficult to get people to listen to her and respect her.
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