From Loss to Leadership: Burnt Forest Farmer Paves Way for New Era in Post-Harvest Management

Burnt Forest, Uasin Gishu County — In a small village nestled in the lush highlands of Burnt Forest, a quiet revolution in agriculture is taking root. Stephen Cheluget, a maize farmer and proud member of the Kuona Mbele Cooperative Society, has made history as the first farmer to store his harvest at agriGHALA, an innovative post-harvest solution introduced by agriBORA.

For years, Stephen battled the harsh realities of post-harvest losses—maize eaten by weevils, storerooms turned into playgrounds for rats, unpredictable weather ruining carefully harvested grain, and volatile market prices that offered no guarantee of fair returns. Like many smallholder farmers across Kenya, he sold his maize to the local market, often under pressure and at throwaway prices.

“We have many rats in our area. Once they get into your storage, they eat up your maize and reduce the kilograms—it’s like they’re eating straight into your profits,” says Cheluget, shaking his head. “By the time you’re ready to sell, you find you have nothing left. But with agriGHALA, your maize is safe—that’s what I saw, and that’s why more farmers should use it.”

“Before agriGHALA, we used to sell in the local market and had to wait endlessly for prices to improve,” says Stephen Cheluget, adjusting his cap and glancing over his flourishing maize field. “By the time we finally sold, we had already lost a good portion of our harvest to pests like weevils and rats. It was heartbreaking.”

That all changed when agriBORA introduced agriGHALA, a game-changer in agricultural value chains. agriGHALA provides secure, certified warehouse storage for farmers, real-time market information through USSD technology, and access to commodity-backed financing. In simple terms, it’s a one-stop solution helping farmers protect their harvest, access fair markets, and finance the next planting season without selling their produce prematurely.

Stephen was inspired to take a bold step after attending a sensitization meeting by agriBORA staff at Kuona Mbele Cooperative Society. What caught his attention was the promise of safe storage, the ability to monitor his maize via mobile phone, and most notably, the chance to access financing using his stored produce as collateral.

Early December last year, Stephen deposited 88 bags of maize, each weighing 90kg, into agriGHALA. He received a Warehouse Receipt, a document that certified his stored commodity and allowed him to secure a loan equivalent to half the value of his stored maize.

“If you want to buy fertilizers, pay school fees, or meet any urgent financial need, you just request a loan against your stored produce—and that’s exactly what I did,” says Cheluget with a satisfied smile. “I used half of what I had stored as collateral, got the loan easily, and bought fertilizers early this year. Now my maize is thriving.”

“The process was seamless,” Cheluget recalls, his face lighting up at the memory. “Just a few forms, and I had the funds in no time. It was quicker and easier than I ever expected.”

Thanks to that timely intervention, Stephen’s maize crop is now flourishing. At knee height and already at the top-dressing stage, his field stands out like a green crown among neighboring farms.

“By the time the planting season started, I had everything I needed at home—planting and topdressing fertilizers, seeds—everything,” says Cheluget, beaming with pride as he surveys his green, knee-high maize. “Indeed, agriGHALA is good. It really helped me prepare early and farm with peace of mind.”

His transformation from a struggling farmer to a local pioneer has not gone unnoticed. Stephen has since convinced fellow farmers, including friends Shedrack and Edward, to join agriGHALA. What makes the experience even more attractive is the convenience—agriGHALA organizes pick-up of maize from the farmer’s doorstep, eliminating costly transport hurdles.

“Now, we don’t have to rush to sell. We can wait for better prices and avoid unnecessary losses,” says Stephen, who continues to spread the word about agriGHALA’s benefits throughout Burnt Forest and beyond.

• “I was able to use my stored maize to access a loan—something I never thought possible before. The storage is clean and secure, so I don’t worry about pests or spoilage anymore. I can monitor prices on my phone and sell when the time is right. They even picked the maize from my home, saving me transport costs. In the end, I earn more and lose less.” — Stephen Cheluget, Maize Farmer, Burnt Forest
  

Stephen Cheluget is more than just a beneficiary—he is a beacon of change. His story reflects the future of Kenyan agriculture: resilient, informed, and empowered.

As he looks forward to his next harvest, which he already plans to store with agriGHALA, Stephen has a simple message to other farmers: “Let’s stop losing what we’ve worked hard to grow. Store it safely, sell wisely, and grow again stronger.”

agriGHALA is a service by agriBORA, a Kenyan agri-fintech company transforming agriculture for smallholder farmers and agriHUBS by combining digital tools, financial access, and market connectivity.

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