Dave Okech OkechFounder

Kenya - ND

Dave Okech is a Food Systems Entrepreneur with over 10 years’ experience in the agribusiness world. He is the founder of Aquarech LTD, associated with development of disruptive innovations in Aquaculture food systems. His outstanding innovation in Aquaculture sector is development of AquaRech Platform, to tackle challenges confronting small and medium scale fish farmers, such as lack of access to: high quality feed, credit, technical assistance and structured fish markets. The innovation connects all actors in the fish value chain (input suppliers, farmers, processors and traders). He has undertaken an intervention in enhancing access to high quality feeds, with high conversion ratio, which has had positive effect in; reducing production period (from 13 to 8), increasing productivity, reducing production costs and increasing profit margins. More interventions have enhanced farmers access to credit for acquisition of high quality feeds and appropriate farming equipment (Cages). In terms of marketing efficiency, cold chain facilities for aggregation, and outlets have been established. Dave recognizes the critical role stakeholders play in efficient and effective execution of the requisite interventions. Employing multipartite intervention model, he has involved financial institutions, public institutions, NGOs and private organizations in providing needed support for Aquarech initiatives, resulting in remarkable strides being made in the blue economy in Kenya. He has been breathing new life into the fish value chain over many years. Last year (2022) he won funding to bring the viability of fish farming to 5,000 women fish farmers. As a servant leader, he is guided by a community-first mindset for which reason he tirelessly works at unlocking opportunities and making aquaculture accessible to all. Dave has won a number of awards including: Mandela Washington Fellow 2016, Acumen Fellow 2019, Global Farmer Network Fellow 2020, African Food Systems Fellow 2022 and Obama Foundation Africa Leaders 2022. Dave holds a Diploma in Actuarial Science.