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Seed
Company Travel Grant to India
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PI:
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Moses Onim
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Contact details
P. O. Box 1244, Kisumu, Kenya
Phone: +254 (35) 41440
Fax: +254 (35) 43063
Email
direct:
onim@lagrotech.org
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Organization:
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Lagrotech Consultants
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Amount:
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US $3,000
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Duration:
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One Year
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Lessons Learned from a Visit to
Mahyco Seed Company in India
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
Lagotech 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. |
