Kenya Seed Company

Breeding activities in index countries and breeding programme for specific traits
Kenya Seed Company has its own breeding programme in Kenya and develops improved varieties of maize with a number of traits that are particularly important for smallholder farmers. This includes resistance and tolerance to biotic stress, as well as developing early maturing and drought tolerant varieties. The company also focuses on incorporating resistance and tolerance to regionally important pests and diseases such as maize lethal necrosis (MLN) and fall army worm (FAW).

Access to seeds for smallholder farmers
Kenya Seed Company has objectives related to marketing and sales and research and development. The company has an opportunity to expand its access to seeds strategy to include other measurement areas and develop time-bound targets.

Stakeholder engagement
While the company undertakes stakeholder engagement activities with organisations such as the Seed Trade Association of Kenya (STAK), the International Seed Federation (ISF) and the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA), it has an opportunity to disclose an overview of issues raised via stakeholder engagement activities as well as how it identifies its most relevant stakeholders.

The company provides limited insight into its position and activities related to genetic resources and intellectual property management. As it is important that seed companies contribute to genetic resources and intellectual property management that supports smallholder agriculture, the company could provide more insights into its activities for others to learn from.

Local participation in breeding/variety development and variety testing
Kenya Seed Company could disclose how it informs its breeding programme with feedback from local consumers, traders and smallholder farmers, including how it incorporates feedback from women farmers. The company could also disclose whether it conducts variety testing in the index region.

Seed production activities in index region
The company has seed production locations in Kenya but has an opportunity to extend its production activities to other countries in the index region. The company could also disclose how it involves local players in seed production.

Quality management in seed production in index countries
The company does not disclose evidence of having a management system to ensure the quality of its seed production in index countries.

Social and labour rights in seed production
The company does not disclose a policy committing to prohibit child and forced labour nor does it disclose a commitment to respect the health and safety of workers, either when seed production is carried out by the company itself or through an intermediary. Furthermore, the company does not disclose where it pays its workers a living wage or requires its intermediaries to do so.

Diverse portfolio
As Kenya Seed Company has only a few varieties for the majority of crops in its portfolio in Kenya, it can diversify its portfolio by offering more varieties per crop. Additionally, it can increase its disclosure regarding the crops it offers in other index countries.

Quality assurance and after-sales
After the sale of seeds, the company’s policy includes addressing customer complaints within 21 days. The company can disclose its protocols for quality assurance, monitoring its distribution network and preventing the sale of expired and counterfeit seeds.

Extension services
Kenya Seed Co provides extension services in the index region. For example in June 2021, the company hosted an event in collaboration with key stakeholders in the region including Kenya Dairy Board, the Kenya Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and various seed cooperatives. The event aimed to educate farmers on the benefits of modern farming practices and the importance of using certified seeds. However, the company has an opportunity to provide extension services in other countries in the region and to track the number of smallholder farmers reached through its capacity building activities.

Programmes for women farmers and next-generation farmers
The company provides extension services in the region but can expand its programmes to target women and next-generation farmers.

Beans, dry
Cowpea
Groundnut
Maize
Millets
Rice, paddy
Sorghum
Sunflower
Wheat

Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Cucumber
Eggplant
Green pea
Lettuce
Melon
Okra
Onion
Pepper (hot)
Pepper (sweet)
Pumpkin
Squash
Tomato
Watermelon

Amaranth
African Nightshade
Jews Mallow
Crotalaria

Download the portfolios of all companies in the 2021 index for Eastern and Southern Africa here.