Acumen

Why Razak Omia Left a Stable Job to Build for Smallholder Farmers in Uganda

The video follows Razak Omia’s decision to quit a secure position at Kala and launch Omia Agro Business Development Group in Uganda’s West Nile region. His mission is to empower smallholder farmers—especially those in refugee settlements—by providing climate‑resilient inputs, extension services, and reliable market access. Omia identifies three core constraints: insufficient quality inputs, limited extension outreach, and fragmented market channels. To overcome these, he bootstrapped a supply chain, first courting local suppliers, then leveraging agricultural extension officers and NGOs already embedded in the communities. This network‑building approach allowed the venture to reach farmers at the last mile without substantial upfront capital. He emphasizes that “business is built on trust,” recounting how early introductions to suppliers and partnerships with settlement NGOs helped establish credibility. By listening to farmers’ aspirations rather than just their challenges, Omia tailors solutions that align with both productivity goals and long‑term sustainability. The model illustrates how socially‑driven entrepreneurship can unlock productivity gains for vulnerable agrarian households, improve food security, and create scalable market opportunities for investors targeting impact‑focused agriculture in East Africa.