Webuye, March 2020
When Bidhaa Sasa first launched, our product range was focused on improving life inside the home – solar lamps, cookstoves, water tanks. But rural life doesn’t stop at the front door. In 2019, with support from the MEDA-INNOVATE initiative, we set out to learn whether our model could also drive the adoption of small-scale agricultural tools by rural women.
Using our lean startup approach, we identified, tested, and eventually commercialised a set of five tools—grain drying canvases, hermetic storage bags and silos, pesticide sprayers, and water tanks. These weren’t just any tools: they had to be affordable (under $100), deliver real impact, and be sellable through our women-led, group-based model.
The response was clear. Over 3,600 tools were sold, 73% to women, who not only paid for them but were the primary users. Tools like hermetic bags saved grain and money; water tanks saved time and effort. The demand was real—and replicable.
This project reminded us that finance is just one part of the solution. Awareness, accessibility, logistics, and trust matter just as much. As one report noted, “Women buy, pay, and use these products all on their own” – a truth that underpins our entire model.