From Farm to Market: How to Grow and Scale an Agricultural Business Sustainably

​This session is designed to give a practical, high-level understanding of what it takes to build an agricultural business that is both commercially viable and sustainable. From deciding what to produce, to understanding profitability, market access, and long-term growth, the conversation will equip attendees with the key considerations needed to move from idea to scalable enterprise.

​Guest Speaker: Valentine Miheso
Valentine Miheso is an experienced Program Director with over 25 years of expertise in market systems development (M4P), agribusiness management, and cross-sector partnerships across East, Southern, and West Africa. Throughout his career, he has successfully launched and scaled agricultural initiatives, including introducing the DeKalb Seed brand in Kenya and Tanzania, which became a market leader.

​He has worked closely with major processors across dairy, cashew, maize, soybean, and cassava value chains to develop inclusive sourcing models that benefit both businesses and farmers. His work has also extended to advancing mechanisation access for smallholder farmers through innovative service models, and building strategic partnerships with private sector players and organisations such as AGRA.

​Currently, he serves as Program Director for AGRA Malawi, leading the Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA) programme, which aims to create over 746,000 job opportunities for young people in the agricultural sector.

​At the core of his work is a deep commitment to tackling hunger and poverty through sustainable agricultural development.