An Interview with Akash Kumar
Co-founder of Pearl Dairy
In this insightful interview, IFC’s Olivia Eliot speaks with Akash Kumar, Co-founder of Pearl Dairy, about how the company supports smallholder farmers through technology, tailored guidance, and financial investment.
Akash also highlights the value of working with IFC and GAFSP in driving growth, investment, and stronger partnerships.
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25,000+smallholder farmers supply milk to Pearl Dairy
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12countries receive exports from Pearl Dairy
Olivia: Tell us more about Pearl Dairy and what you do?
Akash: We are basically milk processors, and we've got two plants — one in Uganda and one in Kenya. From there, we export pretty much into 12 countries, and we directly or indirectly source raw milk from 25,000+ smallholder farmers. Now this can come either through our own collection infrastructure, or it can come through cooperatives or traders.
Olivia: Can you tell me a bit about how you work with smallholder farmers in Uganda and Kenya? I understand you source dairy products from 25,000 farmers across the two countries.
Akash: We, first of all, have extension teams in place and then we've developed an in-house digital platform. Of course, we are trying to grow the livelihoods of the farmers, trying to grow their revenues, their profitability, and it's a long-term agenda. It's not a one- or two-year thing. It's a continuous, ongoing process.
Olivia: Can you tell me a bit about the benefits of working with IFC and particularly with GAFSP as well?
Akash: It's a brilliant business to be partnering with. So if IFC has endorsed you, there are many more partners who look forward to associations and partnerships. That's the biggest advantage. The second biggest advantage is that if you see from just the costing perspective, IFC is blended finance, and with the other services, the support... yeah, when you come up with those things and then check the totality of the costing, you will see that you, at the end of the day, are benefiting much more than what you are paying.
So, it is, at the end of the day, a very big win-win for businesses working together with IFC and GAFSP. And I'm actually very thankful that you guys came into our lives and, you know, partnered with us. So, looking forward to doing some great business in the coming years.