Propagating profit through seed germination

Timothy Murage

Propagating profit through seed germination

When 30-year-old Timothy Murage worked as an agronomist at the large agricultural company Monsanto in Kenya, he noticed a common and recurring problem with many farmers: they struggled with seed germination in their nurseries. Pests, diseases and the lack of a controlled environment affected the germination rate of the seeds.

Identifying a gap in the market for high-quality seeds and propagation methods, Timothy took the bold step of resigning from Monsanto in 2018 to start his own seed-propagation business in Nyandarua County in central Kenya.

The business, Sanjo Seed Raisers, started with propagating onion and tomato seedlings and has grown to produce cabbages, potatoes and capsicum. The seeds are germinated using coco peat (made from coconut fibres), which is less susceptible to pests and diseases than soil.

“We are able to acquire a 90% germination rate with the seeds we raise in the germination room,” says Timothy. “When farmers buy the seedlings, they are able to cut the cost of production by half and get to markets faster.”

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As a beneficiary of a training program run by the Global Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship Center at the United States International University-Africa, with funding from the Cultivate Africa’s Future (CultiAF) program, Timothy says he has put the training he received into practice. This included training in market research, bookkeeping, financial management and marketing.

As demand for seedlings is seasonal and there are times when he had to struggle to find markets, he has since moved into propagating herbs such as basil, parsley, rosemary and mint.

It has not always been a smooth journey for Timothy. COVID-19 had an adverse effect on his business. Movement restrictions introduced by the government caused a decline in sales, resulting in seedlings being wasted. It also became difficult for him to get coco peat from his supplier.

His move to diversify into herbs kept his business afloat because demand for herbs was uninterrupted during the pandemic.

“Through mentorship and the intensive training we underwent, I have seen the value of diversification,” he says.

Before investing in herbs, he could earn an average of CAD$233 each month, whereas now he is able to earn up to CAD$757.

PHOTOS: WREN MEDIA

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