MASTERS PROJECT TURNS INTO BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
By Bernard Muhia
When he started working on his masters project in 2016, James Kapombe didn’t think he would end up actualizing it into his current business. The actuarial science graduate is now the founder and CEO of Cocogrow, a coco peat manufacturer based in Kwale County. Coir Pith or Coco Peat is the byproduct extracted from the coconut husk after the fiber is removed. The Coco peat idea was what he took to the Global Business Sustainability program for entrepreneurship and it is required that you work on an existing business as part of your Masters program.
This is not his first stab at business, James had previously gotten into farming tomatoes and paw paw after his undergraduate studies. He had an idea of value addition to the tomatoes by turning them into paste. This however proved difficult as the machinery was too expensive and the market too flooded. This did not kill his entrepreneurship dreams and he got back to the drawing board. That’s when he remembered that the tomato seedlings were grown in coco peat which he would buy at the local agrovet.
The coco peat wasn’t always available and he saw that as a market need that he could exploit. So he went back to school to study the business and that’s how he got into the Masters project. He was determined to approach business from a point of knowledge unlike with his first venture. He would put in 2 years of study into the business project and it seems to have paid off. The business now produces 30 tonnes of coco peat per month in 160 litre bags. To be his customer, you have to place a minimum order of 2 tonnes. He envisions scaling up the business going forward, getting more clients and improving the business processes. This means reaching and maintaining international standards and ensuring convenience through fast and timely delivery of his products.
He is currently producing medium grade coco peat. The ultimate dream for this 26 year old is to grow his business into being a global leader in agromanufacturing and food processing. The business currently employs 5-6 casual workers and this number grows when orders come flooding in.
This is a long way to come for the young James who grew up in rural Kilifi and has always had a passion for farming. He advises the youth to find an opportunity among the myriad that exist in agribusiness and to just run with it. Cocogrow has won several awards including the 15 most promising startups during the Nairobi Innovation Week in 2018, the E4IMPACT award in the Agribusiness category and the Unleash Innovation Lab, Denmark.
Coco peat were once burned as waste material but is now used as a major component in potting soil due to it’s high water and nutrient retention capacity, while also providing optimum aeration for the plants. Coco peat acts as the best-growing medium for the seed raising because it meets the moisture and nutrient requirements of the germinating seeds. It also has an outstanding water and air retention capacity, therefore allowing enough access of oxygen to roots even when watered just a little with a nutrient solution.
Its anti-fungal properties also help to get rid of soil-borne diseases, hence curbing the use of pesticides. Coco peat is also extensively used in greenhouses and nurseries as growbags or open-tops (easy planters).
This facilitates easy direct addition of liquid nutrients and drainage. Plants and crops are perennially grown in greenhouses, and the cocos helps in a higher yield rate. This method is largely used for berries, cucumber, capsicum, and tomatoes. These growbags or easy planters are also used in floriculture. Coco peat, whether used by itself or in a blend with black peat, is a remarkable medium for mushroom casing. Using coconut coir in the substrate results in optimum mycelial growth, and lesser time will be required for primordial initiation. Coco peat can also be used as an absorbent as it has a multitude of applications. In a mixture with coconut fiber, it can be used for animal bedding which can later be used as a manure. Coir pith has a high moisture retention and absorption capacity, hence they are used as an absorbent of oil and chemicals in different industries. It is also used for air and water filtration. Coco peat and husk chips provide a lifelong conditioning of the soil thus helps in providing the plant with all essential nutrients required for their sustainable growth.
There are other growing media components. These are either organic or inorganic. Organic components include peat moss, bark, coconut coir, rice hulls, etc. Inorganic components include perlite, pumice, vermiculite, sand, hydrogel, etc. Some components retain water on their surface, others retain water within their structure, and others still retain little water in comparison. The two most important requirements for growing media are pH and E.C. (Electrical Conductivity). pH is a determination of how acidic or basic a substance or solution is. E.C. is the ability of soil to carry an electrical current and is an shows the amount of nutrients available for plants to take absorb. The ideal pH range is between 5.2 – 6.2 with a target of 5.8 when saturated. Desirable E.C. for general purpose growing media is between 1.0-2.0 mmhos/cm.
There various types of growing media include:
- Peat and Peat–
Like Materials. This is formed by the accumulation of plant materials in poorly drained areas.
- Perlite.
This is a siliceous mineral of volcanic origin.
- Vermiculite.
Vermiculite is a micacious mineral produced by heating to approximately 745°C.
- Wood Residues.
These materials are generally bi-products of the timber industry and are readily available.
- Bagasse.
This is a waste bi-product of the sugar industry.
- Sand.
Coarse and medium sand particles provide optimum adjustments in media texture.
- Rice Hulls.
These are a biproduct of the rice milling industry.
- Urea Formaldehydes.
This material is prepared by mixing air with a liquid resin and allowing to cool.
- Calcined Clays.
These are formed by heating montmorrillonitic clay minerals to aproximately 690°C.
- Expanded Polystyrene.
Polystyrene flakes, a bi-product of polystyrene processing, are highly resistant to decomposition, increase aeration and drainage, and decrease bulk density.
