When Kariuki Gaita and John Oroko started farming while still at university, the duo did not imagine that something they did mainly as a hobby would turn into a big enterprise.
While studying at Moi University, they honed their skills by being members of Student In Free Enterprise (SIFE) club which was involved in empowering farmers in Uasin Gishu County.
In June 2015, the two incorporated a company -- Selina Wamucii Limited – seeking a company that would solve one problem for farmers — that of access to markets.
Today, the company sources fresh fruit, vegetable, herbs, flowers from over 3,600 farmers across the country and export their products to destinations such as Europe, the Far East and the Middle East.
“Our parents practised small-scale farming, we got to see the opportunities and potential that came with small-scale farming,” Mr Oroko, 34, told Enterprise in an interview.
“We experienced first-hand the challenges that smallholder farmers face. The lack of a steady market and difficulties in meeting market standards remains a challenge for many farmers. That is what we try to solve.”
Other problems which Selina sought to solve, Mr Oroko adds, is inefficient logistics among farmers which sees many of them end up with poor earnings despite putting in a lot of work and money into their farms.
After graduating from university in 2008, Mr Oroko went into consultancy while his business partner went into employment. Their love for farming however saw them get back together seven years later when they decided to form Selina.
They pooled Sh100,000 in savings and used it to start the company.
The friends registered the company as well as getting an export licence from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) and Agricultural and Food Authority.
Mr Oroko says the company has 11 full-time employees and another 200 who work as casuals.
The business collects and sells over 100 tonnes of produce every month. Selina works with farmers from areas such as Kiambu, Murang’a, Meru, Nakuru, Machakos, Makueni, Kisii, Nyamira, Isiolo, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia among others.
Their major crops fall under three broad categories; vegetable (snow peas, sugar snaps and French beans), fruits (avocados, pineapples, mangoes, apples and plums) and herbs (chives, mint, coriander and basil).
Using leased vehicles, Mr Oroko says they visit farmers directly and harvest the crop themselves, always checking that the standards of the crops meet the export benchmarks.
The produce is then transported to packaging and storage facilities which the business has leased from the government through the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).
“We have created an online database through which we are able to keep tabs on what our farmers are doing and which crops are ready for harvest,” Mr Oroko added.
“We also offer extension services and training sessions to our farmers to ensure that throughout the year, the crops they cultivate meet the market’s expectations.”
Selina Wamucii sells fresh produce to wholesalers, retailers, vendors, restaurants, hotels, processors locally and across the world. None of it is sold locally. In Africa, the company has clients in Seychelles, Morocco and Egypt.
Mr Oroko explains that their clients place online orders for fresh produce, specifying the amount needed and the timeline. Using their database, the firm determines where the products will be sourced and collection trucks and workers are dispatched.
“By sourcing directly from the farmers, we are able to get the products at a reasonable price. We save the farmers transport costs and ensure that they have a steady market,” he added.
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