Plantech Kenya, Benefiting Thousands of Farmers with Quality Seedlings

Today’s seedlings raising and propagation is purely technical and professional where no commercial farmer dealing with nursery crops will think of doing it on the farm. In the region, Plantech Kenya Ltd, pioneered the revolutionization of seedling raising, thereby transforming farming in leaps and bounds.

Plantech’s Sales and Marketing Director Idan Salvy, was initially in Naivasha farming and exporting vegetables. However, the farm was faced with losses due to a lack of high-quality seedlings, which led to the idea of the nursery. Recognizing the challenge that farmers were faced with germinating their seedlings, the company took on the responsibility of this crucial farming process, offering customized solutions to meet the specific needs of each farmer.

Plantech as fondly known, began their operations in Naivasha, Kenya in 2015. Initially, they focused on tomato seedlings due to the high market demand, despite the significant input costs, before broadening their supply to meet the risen demand. However, they have since diversified their product range to include flowers, grass, herbs, fruits, and trees.

They now propagate over 100 different crops, serving approximately 80% of the local market, with flowers and vegetables being their primary offerings. The investment employs up to 650 plus staff members with some employees being trained in Israel.

According to Idan, Plantech identified the significant gap in the market and decided to import advanced technology and expertise from Israel. “Farming and seedling raising are two distinct activities and no farmer in Israel will think of doing their seedlings. Any commercial farmer needs quality seedlings, but without the right knowledge and tools, it can lead to significant losses. Flower and vegetable farming lagged because of lack of quality seedlings,” says Idan.

High-quality seedling production has been instrumental in reducing the losses previously experienced by many farmers.  “Seedlings are the foundation of farming, and there should be no compromise on their quality.  We started seedling production 9 years ago and with our quality seedlings we have changed the market, changed farming in terms of yield increase, benefiting farmers greatly,” emphasizes Idan.

Over 5,000 farmers who have adopted Plantech’s seedlings have seen substantial improvements in their yields. Many have reported an increase from 6-8 tons per acre to over 15 tons per acre. This boost in productivity has allowed farmers to increase their income and reduce dependence on middlemen, empowering them to manage their operations more independently. A move that has since enhanced the relationship and built trust between the farmers and the company.

Plantech is currently expanding to 14 more acres, making it one of the largest of its kind in the continent, after South Africa. The company has heavily invested in technology, automating every aspect of their production. Focusing on delivering quality, they have maintained a competitive edge over their competitors thanks to their self-sufficiency, producing materials essential for the production value chain like Styrofoam trays produced in-house.

One of its key strengths is the trust it has built with farmers as it offers sales teams present in every region ensuring they bond with farmers, understanding their needs, challenges and working on addressing them.

Plantech as an Intermediary

The company’s primary mission is to produce high-quality seedlings and to protect the interests of farmers. In the event of any farmer complaints, Plantech coordinates with seed companies to ensure a swift resolution. It has continually served as an intermediary ensuring fair practices.

The company’s technology expertise like the use of seed counting machines to guarantee accuracy ties down to ensuring that seed companies offer quantified seeds. This in a way is standing up for farmers since they are not able to ascertain the number of seeds.

“When we first entered the market, farmers had little trust in anyone. Today, we supply seedlings, and provide agronomists to advise farmers,” said Mr. Idan.

Plantech’s commitment to quality and its close relationship with farmers has enabled it to deliver services that rival global standards. “What you get at Plantech is what you would get in Israel,” Mr. Idan remarked.

In offering advice to budding propagators, Mr. Idan emphasized the importance of having a clear vision and strategy. “Seek knowledge and aim to diversify. Don’t just copy others. This is a high-risk business, but if done right, it offers great margins.” The company remains committed to its mission of empowering farmers and ensuring sustainable growth in the agricultural sector.