How Ole Raha is Unlocking the Growing Garlic Market in Kenya
Gilad Millo & Tewedros Amsalu, co-Fournders of Ole Raha Limited, Awarded Top Agriculture Brand with a 5 Star Rating, Top 100 Kenya Brands, October 2025
Garlic Farming at Ole Raha Garlic rarely announces itself loudly. It works quietly, hidden beneath the soil for months before finally emerging as one of the most valuable crops on the market. Yet in Kenya, where demand for garlic continues to grow in homes, restaurants, and food businesses, local production has long struggled to keep up. For Gilad Millo, that gap became an opportunity not only to grow garlic, but to build a farming model that could support hundreds of other growers along the way. Situated In the dry plains of Isinya, Kajiado County, Ole Raha Farm has grown from a simple four-acre farm to one of Kenya’s emerging success stories in garlic farming.
“Ole Raha began as a garlic farm,” Gilad explains. “A few months before the Covid-19 pandemic, a friend invited me to start a farm together and grow garlic. At the time, it was partly an adventurous investment and partly a dream I had carried for many years of eventually having my own farm.”
Using borehole water and drip irrigation, the founders planted their first garlic crop on four acres. The farm experimented with two garlic varieties and quickly achieved impressive yields and high-quality produce. However, it was the market response that completely changed their outlook.
“Once we harvested, we took samples of our garlic to the supermarkets and grocery chains across Nairobi,” he recalls. “The response shocked us, because Within just a few weeks, we had sold everything.”
That early success revealed a major opportunity in Kenya’s agricultural sector. Despite garlic being widely consumed in Kenyan households, restaurants, and food businesses, much of the local market still depends heavily on imports.
“We realized there was a major gap in the Kenyan market,” he says. “Kenyans love garlic and consume a lot of it, yet the market is heavily dominated by imports despite many consumers preferring local garlic because of its stronger aroma, richer taste, and better cooking quality.”
Building more than just a farm
As demand for local garlic continued to grow, Ole Raha’s founders noticed another important challenge. Many farmers interested in garlic farming were struggling due to poor seed quality, lack of training, unrealistic expectations, and weak market access.
“That is when Ole Raha evolved from being simply a garlic farm into a farmer empowerment and agribusiness platform,” Gilad explains. “We began working with farmers by providing properly germinated cloves, practical hands-on training, continuous support throughout the season, and most importantly, a guaranteed market for their harvest.”
Today, Ole Raha operates as both a production farm and a training centre where farmers can learn every stage of garlic cultivation practically in the field. Different garlic varieties are planted in separate sections and at various stages of growth, allowing visiting farmers to understand the crop cycle from planting to harvesting and curing.
“The farm has become a busy hub of activity,” he says, “Farmers regularly visit for training, seed collection, and guidance. There is always movement, always learning, always farmers coming and going and most of all, there is always that wonderful smell of garlic everywhere on the farm.”
Why Local Garlic stands out
At Ole Raha, the main focus is on the African Giant, commonly known as Moyale Giant, and Rwanda Giant varieties. According to Gilad, these are the most suitable garlic varieties for Kenyan conditions and consumer preferences.
“We chose to work with them because they perform well under Kenyan conditions and, most importantly, because they produce the type of garlic consumers in Kenya actually prefer; strong aroma, rich flavour, good bulb size, and excellent cooking quality,” he explains.
Although imported garlic, particularly from China, dominates much of the market, Ole Raha believes local garlic has a clear advantage in quality and taste.
“When people cook with good local garlic, they immediately notice the difference,” he says.
A farmer-centered Model
One of the key factors behind Ole Raha’s growth has been its practical farmer-centered approach. Drawing from more than 20 years of experience in agriculture and agribusiness, the founders built a system designed around the real needs of farmers.
“What makes Ole Raha different is that we are farmers first,” he explains. “Everything we teach comes from hands-on experience and from lessons learned season after season on our own farm under Kenyan conditions.”
The support offered to farmers goes beyond supplying planting material. Ole Raha also provides structured spray programs, irrigation guidance, online support throughout the season, and market coordination to ensure farmers can sell their produce successfully.
Today, the company works with hundreds of garlic farmers across Kenya, and the network continues to grow as more farmers discover the opportunity within the garlic sector.
Sustainability Beyond the Farm
For Ole Raha, sustainable farming is not only about environmental practices but also about building an economically sustainable value chain that benefits everyone involved.
“A model can only survive long-term if everybody involved is profitable and sustainable beginning with the farmer, companies like ours, traders, supermarkets, and the market as a whole,” Gilad says.
Water management remains one of the most important areas in garlic farming since the crop requires consistent irrigation throughout the season. Ole Raha encourages responsible water use, proper soil preparation, disciplined feeding programs, and good disease management practices.
The company also believes that farmer empowerment is central to sustainability. “When farmers are properly trained, supported, and connected to markets, they become more confident, more independent, and more capable of building long-term success for themselves and their families,” he explains.
Why Garlic prices remain stable
Unlike onions and many other horticultural crops that often experience extreme price fluctuations, garlic prices tend to remain relatively stable and profitable.
“One of the main reasons garlic prices tend to remain relatively stable and high compared to crops like onions is because demand continues to outpace local supply,” he explains.
Gilad notes that garlic also stores better than many vegetables when properly cured, reducing the risk of sudden market oversupply. At the same time, consumer demand continues to rise both locally and regionally.
“We receive inquiries and interest constantly from countries like Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Botswana, Zambia, and other parts of the region,” he says. “The market is there and waiting.”
Challenges
Despite the growing opportunity, garlic farming still comes with several challenges. Reliable access to water, disease pressure during humid seasons, labour demands, and proper post-harvest handling all require careful management.
“Garlic farming can be very profitable, but it is also very detail-oriented,” he explains. “One of the biggest misconceptions about garlic farming is that it is easy money.”
He advises new farmers to approach the crop seriously and avoid rushing into large-scale production without proper knowledge and experience.
“I always encourage people to start small, learn the crop properly, gain experience season by season, and grow gradually,” he says.
Vision
Looking ahead, Ole Raha hopes to continue strengthening Kenya’s local garlic sector while helping more small-scale farmers succeed.
“What excites me most is not necessarily becoming the biggest farm ourselves, but rather helping create a strong and reliable ecosystem of successful small-scale farmers producing quality local garlic consistently season after season,” he says.
The company also plans to continue developing Ole Raha into a stronger demonstration and learning centre for farmers across the country.
For Gilad, farming remains deeply personal. “I genuinely love farm life,” he says. “Farming is about much more than money. It is a lifestyle, a community, and a connection to people and the land.”
