How 2018 TEF Alumna Júbia Uchavo Is Growing Agribusiness in Mozambique
Mozambique’s agricultural sector supports millions of livelihoods and plays a vital role in food security and economic growth. However, many aspiring entrepreneurs face barriers such as limited access to funding, business support, and professional networks, making it difficult to turn promising ideas into successful businesses.
Pour Júbia Uchavo, these challenges became the foundation of an entrepreneurial journey defined by resilience, innovation, and a commitment to creating opportunities for others. As the founder of Kikirigoó Frango, a poultry enterprise based in Maputo, Júbia is helping strengthen local food production while actively supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs across Mozambique. Her story reflects the power of entrepreneurship to create jobs, strengthen communities, and contribute to sustainable economic development.
Júbia Uchavo’s Journey into Agribusiness
From the outset of her career, Júbia Uchavo recognised the transformative potential of agriculture. With experience spanning agribusiness development, entrepreneurship support, and youth empowerment, she became increasingly aware of the opportunities that existed within Mozambique’s agricultural value chain.
In 2016, she founded Kikirigoó Frango in Maputo with a clear vision: to provide high-quality, locally produced chicken while contributing to domestic food production and reducing reliance on imported poultry products.
Like many entrepreneurs building businesses from the ground up, Júbia faced significant challenges during the early years. She managed every aspect of the enterprise herself, overseeing production, operations, budgeting, marketing, customer acquisition, and day-to-day administration. Operating with limited financial resources required careful planning and perseverance.
Despite these constraints, her vision remained clear. She saw poultry farming not only as a commercial opportunity but also as a pathway to stimulate local economic activity, create jobs, and strengthen food systems within her community.
Building Kikirigoó Frango
The establishment of Kikirigoó Frango aligned with growing demand for locally produced poultry in Mozambique. As populations increase and urban markets expand, reliable domestic food production has become increasingly important for both economic resilience and food security.
Kikirigoó Frango was created to help meet this demand while supporting local agricultural value chains. By investing in local production, the business contributes to reducing dependence on imported poultry, keeping more value within the domestic economy and supporting suppliers, workers, and customers across the production chain.
Beyond its core business operations, the enterprise has become an example of how youth-led agribusinesses can drive meaningful socioeconomic impact. The company has generated employment opportunities and demonstrated that agriculture can be both commercially viable and socially impactful when coupled with innovation and effective business management.
Júbia’s success also challenges outdated perceptions of agriculture as a sector with limited opportunities for young people. Instead, her experience highlights how agribusiness can create sustainable livelihoods while addressing critical food security needs.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation’s Role in Her Growth
A major turning point in the journey of Júbia Uchavo came in 2018 when she was selected for the Programme d'entrepreneuriat de la Fondation Tony Elumelu (TEF), Africa’s leading entrepreneurship initiative empowering entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries.
As a member of the Foundation’s agriculture cohort, Júbia received US$5,000 in non-refundable seed capital, alongside world-class business training, mentorship, and access to a powerful pan-African network of entrepreneurs and business leaders.
For many early-stage entrepreneurs, access to funding alone is often not enough. The combination of capital, knowledge, mentorship, and networking opportunities proved invaluable for Júbia as she worked to strengthen Kikirigoó Frango’s operations and position the business for sustainable growth.
The programme enabled her to refine her business model, strengthen operational processes, improve planning frameworks, and approach growth more strategically. The seed capital further supported investments that allowed the business to scale its activities and meet increasing demand.
The results were significant.
Following her participation in the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, Kikirigoó Frango recorded a 60% increase in revenue during 2018, demonstrating the commercial potential of locally driven agribusiness solutions. The business also expanded its social impact by creating opportunities for women in the community.
As part of its growth, the company employed and trained five women as seasonal workers, supporting poultry processing and packaging activities while providing an additional source of income for their households. This reflects the multiplier effect that entrepreneurial ventures can have when supported with the right resources and ecosystem.
Empowering Other Entrepreneurs Across Mozambique
While growing Kikirigoó Frango remains a central focus, the impact of Júbia Uchavo extends well beyond her own business.
Passionate about entrepreneurship development, she has dedicated part of her career to supporting emerging business owners as they navigate common growth challenges. Through her work with the OC Innovation Fund, Júbia serves as a Business Development Specialist and Credit Analyst, helping entrepreneurs strengthen their business strategies and access financing opportunities.
Her work places her at the intersection of enterprise development and financial inclusion, two areas that are essential for strengthening Mozambique’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
By guiding entrepreneurs through business planning, financial management, and growth strategies, she contributes to creating an environment where innovative ideas can evolve into sustainable enterprises. This support is particularly important for young founders who often struggle to access the technical expertise and financing required to expand their businesses.
Júbia’s dual role as both entrepreneur and ecosystem enabler demonstrates how successful founders can contribute to broader economic development by sharing knowledge and creating pathways for others to succeed.
Why Júbia Uchavo’s Story Matters
The story of Júbia Uchavo represents more than the success of a poultry business. It illustrates how entrepreneurship can address multiple development challenges simultaneously, from food security and employment creation to youth empowerment and women’s economic participation.
Aujourd'hui, Júbia Uchavo continues to advance her mission at the intersection of agribusiness, entrepreneurship, and youth development. As Kikirigoó Frango grows, she remains committed to creating employment opportunities, strengthening local poultry production, and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs across Mozambique.
Through her leadership, Kikirigoó Frango is helping strengthen Mozambique’s agricultural sector, while her work with emerging entrepreneurs is nurturing a future generation of business leaders. Together, these efforts are creating lasting impact and contributing to a more inclusive and prosperous economy.
For aspiring entrepreneurs across Africa, Júbia Uchavo is proof that with resilience, innovation, and support, local businesses can become powerful catalysts for transformation.
