Agronomist finds shade in fruit and tree seedlings propagation

Allan Chelimo tends to his fruit seedlings and fruits at his farm in Kiplombe, Uasin Gishu County on 9-03-2016 . The farmer sales seedlings to farmers ranging from Sh 50 to Sh 400. He urged farmers to opt for the lucrative fruit seedlings market over the conventional cereals farming. PHOTOS BY: KEVIN TUNOI

They say it is foolhardy to keep doing same things the same way and expect different returns.

After more than 15 years of growing maize, Allan Chelimo knew he needed to change his farming ways.

That change came about in the form of seed production. Chelimo, 56, propagates seedlings for assorted fruits - avocadoes, mangoes, apples, oranges, strawberries, grapes, tree tomato, white sapote, passion fruits, loquats, pomegranates, quavas, custard apple, bananas, lemons, plums and pears.

He also nurtures seedlings for exotic and indigenous varieties of trees for sale. He raises cypress, blue gum, bottle brush, grevillea and all sorts of ornamental plants.

The retired agronomist and founder of Cheal Horticulture Investment says he has never lacked since he switched to horticulture and seed farming.

“With my knowledge in agriculture, I ventured into a different kind of farming which was then not common in the region. My family was skeptical that I was getting into a venture that would not allow us get food or money to pay bills,” he told Smart Harvest at his farm in Kiplombe, Uasin Gishu County.

His venture thrives throughout the year, unlike maize production that is seasonal and cost intensive.

“The cost of a 50kg bag of fertiliser that retails at between Sh3,000 and Sh3,500 is higher than the cost of a 90kg bag of dry maize when sold to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) at Sh2,800 and as low as Sh2,000 to middlemen and millers,” he says.

From his quarter of an acre plot, Chelimo, a father of three, makes up to Sh1.5 million annually through selling fruit seedlings.

“I used to lease 25 acres to grow maize. When I realised I was not making meaningful returns, I turned to my small plot to propagate quality and certified fruit seedlings which I sell at between Sh50 and Sh400 depending on the variety. I have never looked back since I started this venture 10 years ago,” he says.

“I have invested more than Sh500,000 into this venture that has grown gradually. It needs a lot of care to tend to the fragile seedlings and patience before one gets to enjoy the juicy income,” he says.

His clients include individual farmers, public and private institutions and regional environmental conservation bodies who purchase tree seedlings for afforestation programmes.

Guaranteed profits

Chelimo says his seedlings venture is labour intensive but with guaranteed profits compared to cereal production. The proceeds from his farm have enabled him educate his children to university and college level. He has also invested in dairy farming, earning him extra income.

He has also bought several plots through earnings from the business. The horticulture enterprise has also opened new doors for him. Besides purchasing seedlings from his farm, several institutions and county governments have contracted him to train farmers.

“I was contracted to propagate more than 30,000 seedlings of various varieties to be issued to farmers in the lake basin region,” he says.

The demand for his seedlings means he has to employ extra hands to help him manage his enterprise.

To ensure his seedlings meet the required standards, Chelimo says he sources the seeds from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro).

He is also a registered seedlings producer with the Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA) and is awaiting inspection certificate from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis).

“To ensure my customers get value for money by producing quality seeds, I have to make my seedlings are free of diseases,” he says.

To keep abreast with the ever changing technology and remain relevant in the field, Chelimo ensures he attends trade fairs and Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) shows. He also visits various orchards to learn new practices.

“I visit thriving orchards regularly, mainly in Central and Eastern Kenya, and technological institutions to learn best practices in tending fruits,” he says.

His farm is also a source of inspiration, drawing hundreds of people eager to learn from his practice. Just like all other farming enterprises, seed propagation has its fair share of challenges.

“I am forced to go deep into the forest to get soils rich in humus to ensure the seedlings grow as required,” he says.

Big dreamer

For this, he has to foot the transport costs and pay the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) for the soil.

Vagaries of weather also conspire to affect his enterprise: “Hailstorms have on some occasions hit the seedlings, destroying thousands of them. The seeds are also affected by prolonged dry weather,” he says.

Despite the challenges, Chelimo is dreaming big.

He plans to expand his orchard to produce enough fruit seedlings. He also plans to add value to the produce through a processing plant in five years.