At the Pre i-Boot Camp Virtual Summit held on November 12th, Ethiopian agribusiness Haile Wako Integrated Farms won a 5000 USD investment from the Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa (YALDA). The Ethiopian competitor impressed judges with its business plan aimed at improving sustainable agricultural practices and food security.
Haile Wako Integrated Farms was founded by Adugna Haile, Addisu Haile, and Haile Wako. Speaking about the win, Adugna Haile said that the prize will help drive their mission of redefining the agribusiness sector in Ethiopia and eventually Africa.
The company has been involved in numerous innovative endeavors focused on stepping up the role of technology in agriculture like climate-smart farming and drip irrigation as well as assisting small-scale farmers to market their produce.
The competition featured young entrepreneurs from Ethiopia, Gambia, Malawi, and Rwanda and was held with the aim of raising awareness on the lack of funding for youth-led businesses. Along with YALDA, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the International Trade Centre (ICT), and the AfCFTA Secretariat hosted the summit.