When torrential rains destroyed his entire farm in 2018, Noah Nasiali believed his agricultural dream had come to an end. Instead, the disaster marked the beginning of a remarkable journey that would propel him to international recognition and a $1 million award.
Nasiali, now the founder and CEO of Afarmers AgriTech & Leadership Centre, vividly remembers the day his Athi River farm was swept away. “We lost everything,” he said in an interview with The Organic Guy Podcast. Six greenhouses, six acres of crops, water tanks, and the training area vanished under raging floods, leaving behind devastation and uncertainty.
Rather than retreat, Nasiali chose to share his experience. He recorded a 30-second video explaining that an upcoming training session had to be cancelled due to the flooding. What seemed like a small act of honesty soon turned into a life-changing moment.
“That post got 1.2 million views,” he said. “But what moved me wasn’t the views. It was farmers reaching out, offering help, and even showing up physically to rebuild.” Within days, a group of young volunteers arrived at his farm, helping him restore what had been lost.
Then came a call that changed everything. “Facebook reached out and told me they’d like to have me in California,” Nasiali recalled. Initially unsure of what it meant, he later received an email confirming his selection as one of Facebook’s Community Leaders in Residence.
Three months later, during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Facebook officially unveiled its global initiative celebrating individuals using social media to create social impact. Nasiali represented Africa and the Middle East, joining four others from France, the United States, Latin America, and India.
“That’s when they told us we were each being awarded one million dollars to continue our work in our communities,” he said. Since receiving the award, Nasiali has expanded Afarmers AgriTech & Leadership Centre into a leading pan-African platform that empowers smallholder farmers through technology, digital education, and innovation. The organization provides farmers with the tools and knowledge to increase productivity and adapt to climate challenges.
What began as a flood-ravaged farm has transformed into a story of resilience and purpose. Noah Nasiali’s journey stands as proof that even in the face of tragedy, innovation and determination can grow stronger than any storm.
