Kenya Seed Company: Top Quality Certified Seed Supplier

1. Kenya seed company limitedHead office kitale: Subsidiaries: Simlawseeds co. ltd- Nairobi Kibo seed company ltd- Tanzania Mt Elgon seed company- Uganda

2. Vision • TO BE THE CERTIFIED SEED SUPPLIER OF CHOICE IN EAST AFRICA AND BEYOND MISSION • TO AVAIL TOP QUALITY CERTIFIED SEED PRODUCTS TO THE FARMER

3. Back ground • Kenya Seed Company is a state Corporation that produces and markets top quality seeds for the country farming community with an overall objective of adding value to the farming business and contributing to food sufficiency in Kenya and beyond. • The Company was incorporated in Kenya in July 1956 to promote the use of improved strains of pasture seed, developed by the National Agricultural Research Station at Kitale. • Two years later, the company started an enterprise to produce commercial sunflower for the European bird feed market to sustain its financial needs that had by then expanded. • In 1963 the company introduced hybrid seed maize production following the release of the first hybrids by the government Research centre in Kitale. Seed wheat was added to the seed program in 1971 to provide certified seed to farmers who previously depended on low quality farm saved seeds.

4. Acquisitions • Later in 1979 the company acquired Simpson and White law, a company trading in horticultural seeds, and introduced the brand name Simlaw Seeds, which has since distinguished itself as a leading brand in the market. • In 2002 Simlaw Seeds was registered as a limited liability company and a subsidiary of Kenya Seed Company Ltd. • Its core business is selling and marketing of high quality horticultural seeds in Kenya and eastern Africa. • In the same year Kenya seed incorporated Kibo and Mt Elgon seed Companies in Tanzania and Uganda respectively as an expansion strategy into the Eastern Africa market.

5. objectives • To produce top quality certified seeds • To supply and promote quality certified seeds to meet effective market demand and needs • To generate and disseminate appropriate technological packages for farmers • To enhance internal seed quality standards • To increase profits through operation and production efficiency and market expansion • To adopt quality management systems and programs in all sectors of the company • To adopt mechanisms for spreading risk and improving company income • To Improve career opportunities through staff training and development  • To achieve the above objective the company has had to invest a large capital outlay to cater for research and development of technologies, infrastructure, production and marketing.

6. Departments Administration • in charge of daily issues and liaising with other departments for daily activities including financing. Production • Charged with the responsibility of ensuring adequate seed supplies by growing annual requirements for the areas covered Research • In charge of introducing new varieties for different regions and maintaining the germplasm Marketing • Liaises with other departments to satisfy the customer. Ensures adequate circulation of seeds and trains farmers on various requirements for successful crop growth and addressing upcoming challenges

7. Research • The Kenya Seed Company has its own research programmes centered at Elgon Downs Farm. • The Research Department is responsible for variety development and supply of basic seed. It also conducts seed agronomy; herbicide screening and fertilizer types and rates trials and make recommendations to farmers to enable them maximize yields. 

8. PRODUCTION: • Production department is responsible for the growing of certified seeds. Local farmers carry out seed production on contractual terms. • To ensure the qualities of the seeds, the seed growers are supported by a team of qualified and experienced technical staff who offer advice throughout all the stages of seed production

9. PRODUCTION CHANNELS

10. MARKETING • The Company ensures that the farmers are continuously informed about new technologies and encourage them to adopt them in order to enhance their productivity. • The Company has also established an efficient seed distribution network of agents and stockists in the market place to ensure ease of accessibility of quality seeds at all times. • The network of channels of distribution is serviced by a well trained team of professionals with good product knowledge and marketing skills to handle customers issues such as need for product information and handling of customers complaints/ issues. • The company engages the farmers in trainings through activities such as field days, open days, demonstrations fields, Ask shows and media programs (print, radio, television, newsletters and word of mouth)- brochures, fliers etc • Sponsorship of community events eg road races, bicycle races etc

11. Marketing channels

12. HUMAN RESOURCES: • The management of the Company has built a significant capacity of its human resource through training and development programmes both within and at other reputable training establishments. • As a result experienced and dedicated staff man key result areas to deliver quality services and to meet the company’s set objectives.

13. Crop varieties • Cereals: • Wheat and Maize, for low attitude, medium altitude and high altitude. Packages for maize are in 1 kg, 2 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg and exceptional 25 & 50 kg pack for large scale commercial farmers. • Oats, Columbus Grass, Boma Rhodes, Elmba Rhodes, Sudan Grass, Colored Guinea • Sunflower, beans, peas, cowpeas, green grams, sorghum, millet • Lucerne, desmodium, kikuyu grass, Bermuda grass • Most of these products are packed in 500 g and 1 kg

14. HORTICULTURE • Broccoli, Cabbage, capsicum, Celery, Cauliflower, collards/ kale, • carrots, coriander, eggplants, leeks, lettuce, okra, onion, parsley, • pumpkin, spinach, tomato, turnip, water melon and many others. • Vegetables include both open pollinated and hybrids and are packed from 10 grams, 25 grams, 50 grams, 100 grams, 250 grams, 500grams and 1 kg pack to serve different farm sizes.

15. Other services • Crop production schedules • Crop nutrition and crop protection supplementary products provision • Gross margin estimation and planning • Market analysis and advice • Advice on post harvest practices and storage.

16. CHALLENGES Transport and distribution / storage • Many rural areas have poor access roads and pose a big challenge in availing top quality seeds to the farmers. In addition to poor road state in some areas, storage is also a major problem due to presence of storage pests and diseases, lack of storage facilities and lack of knowledge on the farmers to handle seeds. Training is continuous to train handlers on requirements of proper seed health and enforced by KEPHIS Pests and diseases • Many pests can be passed from one area to another either though seed or other crop material such as residues and from field to field. During seed production, strict measures are needed to ensure control of pests and diseases. Collaboration with other stake holders in the agro-chemical industry and seed treatment.

17. Fraudsters. • There are many cases of illegal sellers have been found selling uncertified seeds using packages printed in packages resembling those made by the company. KEPHIS follows up on all issues and uses legal measures to ensure adherence to set rules and regulations Illiteracy and poverty • Many farmers are poor and are often unable to buy adequate seed quantities for their planting needs. This therefore makes their productivity to remain low. Illiteracy makes many farmers not to follow instructions correctly thus compromising the results achieved. Continuous training in collaboration with the ministry of agriculture, schools and churches. Unstable weather • The unpredictability of tropical weather often causes major problems to seed quality either due to extreme humidity which interferes with natural processes of growth or seed maturation. Timing of planting seasons and researching on more drought tolerant crop species for marginal areas.

18. Declining soil fertility • Due to continuous farming, many soils have declined in their ability to support profitability and give adequate yields in the crops produced. The application of inorganic fertilizers has worsened soil conditions making crop production unpredictable. This calls for urgent action to combat declining soil conditions. Advice on crop rotation, use of cover crops and application of organic manure.

19. Way forward • Training of farmers is key to technology adoption for them to understand and evaluate the benefits derived versus remaining in their current situation. • Collaboration with other organizations in the industry to use synergies that will reduce duplication and make farmers combine all the requirements affecting their production activities • Increasing farmers awareness on the benefits of multi-purpose trees and shrubs to be augmented into their farming and soil conservation measures.