Seeds germinate rewards for those who dare dream

Freshco seeds General manager and founder, James Gichinga, when he received his Award in Capetown South Africa

NAIROBI: Captain James Gichanga loves everything to do with agriculture. He believes young people should be actively involved in the sector as it is the backbone of the country's economy and is financially rewarding.

Gichanga, a retired Army captain, knew his future was in agriculture even while serving in the army.

A year after he had retired, in 1998, he joined hands with his friend and confidant, Peter Munga to start Freshco Seeds Company.

"We gave it some thought. Our decision was informed by the fact that farmers could increase their potential by using quality seeds at planting. It was a niche market that hitherto remained unexplored. The company would employ modern technologies to realise ideal planting material that assured farmers of good produce," says Gichanga.

As they set up the business, Gichanga and Munga needed accreditation from Kenya Agriculture Research Institute (Kari), now the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO).

Freshco entered into partnership with Kari; it would buy technology developed by Kari's scientists so that they would replicate it at their production hall to create the best seeds from a plant species.

"We targeted small-scale farmers who struggled to optimise production due to unpredictable weather patterns and overused soils. We began with producing quality macadamia seeds for farmers in prime areas such as Nyeri, Muranga, Embu, and Kangundo," Gichanga says.

It worked. This prompted the company to expand its reach; so that it could produce quality seeds for all types of crops. Then Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) also came in to help him develop disease-resistant seeds especially for arid and semi-arid areas.

Gichanga was serious about agriculture. He had graduated with a degree in agricultural engineering from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology in 1984.

"Immediately after graduation I was taken by the army as a cadet," he recalls. "But my passion remained in agriculture."

Gichanga, also Freshco general manager, says he helped in bolstering agricultural produce by small-scale farmers. There are several factors that are considered when seeds are manufactured. Gichanga says the climatic patterns of the target area as well as soil properties come into perspective.

"We sell currently available technologies. We convert them into viable seeds and sell to farmers. The seed is, therefore, a package of technologies," he says.

Seventeen years after establishing Freshco, Gichanga's efforts have been recognised internationally. He is the winner of Africa Agribusiness Entrepreneur of the year 2015, which he received last May in Capetown South Africa.

"The award has challenged me; it has challenged Freshco to live up to bigger expectations," he says.

Freshco currently operates in five countries: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and DRC. Gichanga encourages young people to take up agriculture as a venture. It is the only industry with immense potential yet to be tapped, he says.

"The market is available within and beyond Kenya," he says. "Freshco began small; but our efforts to disseminate technology in Africa have paid off. As long as there is passion and determination, venturing into agriculture has rewards. We are reaping the rewards."

Agriculture provides 80 per cent of all employment opportunities in the country and contributes 26 per cent of the gross domestic product.

That is according to a 2013 report by International Food Policy Research Institute and the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa, titled East African Agriculture and Climate Change.