KENYA – Copia Global, the fast-growing B2C e-Commerce platform operating in East Africa, has received global recognition for its newly introduced farming division, bagging the Direct-to-Consumer Service of the Year in the 2022 AgTech Breakthrough Awards.
The award recognises the world’s best agricultural and food technology companies, products and services and Copia received the accolade for its innovative approach to providing solutions to farmers in Kenya via its established e-Commerce business.
Launched earlier this year, Copia’s Farming Division builds on the insight that the agricultural sector is currently underserved in the supply of farming inputs and services.
In response, in January of this year, the company launched an advisory service via a free-to-call call line (0800 721295) that is manned by over 20 registered vet and agronomy professionals.
The line currently receives hundreds of calls per day and provides Copia customers with training and agro extension guidance to farmers at no extra cost.
“This service allows us to go beyond simply selling goods to our customers to facilitate their access to government certified agricultural inputs and advisory extension services on our platform so that they are better empowered to build thriving and sustainable agricultural businesses,” said Tim Steel, CEO, Copia Global.
The service is key as agriculture currently contributes to over 33% of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and adds an additional 27% of GDP indirectly through linkages with other sectors.
Mr Steel said, “The agricultural sector plays a pivotal role in Kenya’s economy and forms a critical element for national food security.
“Based on the fact that over 90% of our customers are engaged in agricultural activity, we believe that enabling enhanced access to farming inputs aligns very closely with Copia’s mission to ensure that we are making lives easier every day for our customers.”
Alongside bagging the award, Copia has also received official certification from the Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB) certifying the division.
Alongside the latest certification from KVB, Copia has also received certifications from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) and the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS).
The Farming Division supplements Copia’s unique consumer retail e-commerce offering of over 4,000 products on its platform for the Kenyan and Ugandan markets, with ambition of providing quality products at the lowest market prices delivered at no charge to the consumer.
Further expanding its offering, the ecommerce platform recently opened a new manufacturing unit that will enhance output of its affordable private label sugar and rice in the Kenyan market.
The new machine is the second of such unit that Copia operates and will double the supply of its own branded sugar and rice.
The B2C commerce outfit has been operating its private label business line since 2016 and has secured all requisite regulatory approvals to provide the packaged goods, including accreditation from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
Currently the company offers two types of rice (biriyani and long grain) as well as granulated sugar in packs of 500 grams and 1 kilogram.
These foods are sourced from responsible local suppliers, who are continuously vetted for quality by the company.
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