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Velache Coker

Canaan Farm
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Born in Moyamba Town, Sierra Leone, Velache Coker was determined to become a professional footballer. But after some false starts, he found himself pursuing entrepreneurship. While spending some time in The Gambia with his family, Velache became aware of the shortage of farmers within the country and vowed to change the agricultural landscape in his home country, Sierra Leone.

By the age of 19, Velache had started 3 businesses. Most of them have been discontinued, but one remains – Canaan Farm.

Canaan Farm is an agribusiness and distribution company with two branches that grow various produce (watermelon, okra, cassava, etc.). They distribute these products to homes, hotels and restaurants. He also has an additional venture called Abacha, which is an online marketplace enabling consumers to purchase various products through the platform. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG) of Zero Hunger, Canaan Farm is creating a long-lasting ecosystem for healthy produce and digital shopping.

The company currently employs 10 people full time and 38 on a part-time basis. As the man who drives the vision, mission and strategic outcomes, Velache is determined to see every Sierra Leonean go to bed with a full belly.

2022

2019 Anzisha Fellow selected as Saavy prize semi-finalist

Saavy Prize

13/02/2022

Velache Coker – Sierra Leone Velache provides opportunities for smallholder farmers to access technology and real-time information to manage their crops from soil preparation until he gets to the final consumer.

2019

Velache’s Anzisha Prize Pitch

YouTube

20/10/2019

Watch Velache pitch for the 2019 Anzisha Prize

Anzisha Prize Announces their Top 20 Young African Entrepreneurs for 2019

allafrica

17/10/2019

Meet Africa’s youngest entrepreneurs whose ideas are reimagining the future of the continent. After months of searching the African continent, the Anzisha Prize has unveiled its top 20 finalists for 2019. The winner will be announced at the ninth annual Anzisha Prize Forum on 22 October in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Meet the Finalists – Velache Coker

YouTube

10/10/2019

Meet Valache Coker - Anzisha 2019 Finalist from Sierra Leone

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