a. Confidence building in the seed industry

The Government of Kenya for many years supported the monopoly of the Kenya Seed Company in seed production and marketing. It was not until 2000 when Lagrotech Seed Company was registered after the government liberalized the seed sector. A similar experience spanning several decades of monopoly in seed production and marketing was reported in India. Mahyco is presently the largest seed company in South East Asia.  The humble support of improved hybrid okra seed by a Rockefeller Foundation scientist to the owner and founder of the company, Mr. Barwali, was the beginning of a series of successes in seed production. Lagrotech is pleased to be associated with the Rockefeller Foundation, and its managerial and financial support is also anticipated to be a great beginning to success Lagrotech Seed Company.

b. Networking with some of the best seed scientists in the business

The trip to India was the beginning of the Rockefeller Foundation initiated visits to expose Lagrotech scientists and Seed Company to several scientists in the areas of seed production, technology and marketing.  Meanwhile, Lagrotech has received visits from several scientists from within the seed industry.  Membership in the ProVenex Rockefeller family has enabled Lagrotech scientists and the seed company staff, to attend regional and international conferences such as the “IR Maize Striga Conference” held in July 2002 in Kisumu, Kenya; and the Biotechnology, Breeding and Seed Systems for African Crops Conference held in Entebbe, Uganda in November 2002.

c. Shopping for a wide range of fairly priced seed processing equipment

The trip was also an opportunity to shop for a wide range of fairly priced seed processing machinery.  Although purchases have not been made, the exposure will become useful when Lagrotech eventually acquires its seed processing machines.

d. Priority setting for profit making operations in the seed business

It was evident from the visit that a small seed company should not invest its limited cash resources on rather expensive seed processing equipment in its formative stages.  Instead, more resources should be invested in seed production and marketing.  The company can start procuring expensive seed processing equipment when it becomes financially stable. This is what Lagrotech has done and gained useful experience in the process.