From job seekers to agri- pioneers

Kaara, a biotechnology graduate from the University of Nairobi (UoN), specialised in plant tissue culture and saw first-hand how poor-quality planting materials trapped farmers in cycles of low yields and crop failure.

Peter, an agricultural engineering graduate, also from UoN, had a deep understanding of farm mechanisation, irrigation systems and agribusiness. Together they saw an opportunity to bridge the gap between science and farming.

In just three years, they have gone from renting a house and setting up a makeshift lab to owning a fully equipped tissue culture facility.

Their company, Advanced Plant Technologies, has become a leader in the field, producing millions of high-quality plantlets for farmers across East Africa.

Through the use of tissue culture, they have not only achieved their own success, but also revolutionised plant breeding, ensuring farmers have access to disease-free, high-yielding plant material.

Their journey began at a Kenya Flower Council symposium in 2015, where their shared passion sparked an idea that would change their lives.

"We both knew the difficulties of finding jobs, but instead of waiting, we decided to create our own opportunities," Kaara recalls.

Without funding or a big company to back them up, Peter and Kaara rented a small house and turned it into a makeshift tissue culture lab, equipping it with only the essentials.

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"We started with nothing but motivation and a vision," says Kaara. "We had to be resourceful and use what we had to make things work."
Their breakthrough came when Kephis (Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service) approved their facility, allowing them to secure their first contract: multiplying pyrethrum plantlets for the Pyrethrum Board of Kenya.

The Board was facing a shortage of starter plants, and their laboratory provided the much-needed solution. This contract opened doors and led to partnerships with farmers, exporters and research institutions in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia.

Today, their business produces up to two million plantlets a month, helping farmers to move from unreliable traditional propagation methods to modern, efficient tissue culture techniques. Their production is impressive: 10,000 pyrethrum plantlets per month and 100,000 potato plantlets per month, with a total potential of two million plantlets when scaled up.

In addition to the agricultural impact, the business has proven to be financially rewarding. In addition to their potato farm in Nyandarua, they are now able to attend to their needs without difficulties.

Like any startup, they have faced challenges. High electricity costs, power outages and market fluctuations constantly threatened their progress. Their laboratory consumes about Sh25,000 worth of electricity every month, and frequent power cuts put their delicate plant cultures at risk.

To cut costs, they found creative solutions such as using aluminium foil on windows to maximise natural light and exploring solar power as an alternative.

The Covid-19 pandemic was another major setback. “A customer had ordered 30,000 Eryngium flower plantlets at Sh45 each, but when the flower export market collapsed, the customer cancelled the order,” recalls Peter.

This single cancellation resulted in a loss of Sh1 million.

"It was a tough time," admits Peter. "But we adapted quickly and shifted our focus from flowers to food crops such as potatoes and bananas, which were still in demand."

Despite the obstacles, their perseverance has paid off. They now serve clients in a variety of sectors, providing contract plant propagation for bananas, potatoes, flowers and trees.

The cost of plantlets depends on production costs and market demand. Pyrethrum seedlings sell for between Sh45 and Sh50 each, while some high-value varieties can go as high as Sh70. With six full-time employees, they continue to expand their operations to reach more farmers.

For years, farmers have relied on traditional propagation methods such as cuttings and seedlings, but these methods have limitations. Slow growth rates delay production, diseases spread easily from infected mother plants, and genetic variation leads to inconsistent yields.

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Tissue culture overcomes several agricultural challenges by producing identical, disease-free plantlets in a sterile environment. It is used to propagate crops such as bananas, potatoes, pyrethrum, flowers and trees, ensuring that farmers receive high-quality planting material that grows faster and yields more.

"Many farmers struggle with low yields because they unknowingly plant diseased or genetically weak plants," explains Kaara. "With tissue culture, we provide them with healthy, uniform plantlets that are ready to thrive."

Tissue culture is a meticulous scientific process that ensures plants are healthy, uniform and ready for the field. The process begins with the preparation of a special gel-like nutrient medium containing 19 carefully measured chemicals.

These include nutrients to support plant growth, plant hormones to regulate root and shoot development and a gelling agent to stabilise the plants. Different media are used at different stages to stimulate growth, multiplication or rooting.

A key element of this process is sterilisation, which takes place in a sterile laboratory environment similar to an operating theatre. All tools are flame-sterilised before use and work is carried out in a HEPA-filtered laminar flow cabinet to eliminate bacteria and fungi.
"Even the smallest contamination can destroy an entire batch of plants," warns Peter.

A tiny sample of tissue, called an explant, is taken from a disease-free mother plant. This explant is washed in diluted bleach and sterile water to eliminate microorganisms before being placed in growth medium in sterile jars.

Within two weeks, the explant will produce several shoots. These shoots are transferred to fresh culture jars every four weeks to encourage further growth. This cycle can continue for up to seven iterations, multiplying the plants exponentially.

Once a sufficient number of shoots have been developed, they are placed in a rooting medium to which rooting hormones have been added to promote robust root formation.

Before the plantlets are ready to be planted in the field, they undergo a hardening process. Farmers have the option of hardening the plants themselves or requesting assistance from the laboratory.

This process gradually exposes the plants to different light conditions, temperature changes and soil conditions to strengthen them before planting.

Peter and Kaara's journey is a message of hope for agricultural graduates struggling to find work. Instead of waiting for an employer to offer them an opportunity, they created their own.

Agriculture is full of opportunities, from plant propagation and greenhouse farming to agribusiness consulting and food processing. The key is to start small, stay adaptable and keep learning.

"If you have the knowledge and passion for farming, there is always a way forward," says Kaara.

Looking ahead, Peter and Kaara plan to expand their training programmes to teach more farmers about tissue culture. They are also exploring export markets, as their phytosanitary certified plantlets can be shipped internationally.

"Our goal has always been to help farmers," says Kaara. "By ensuring they have access to the best planting materials, we help them grow better crops, earn more and improve their livelihoods."

"This is more than just a business. It's about securing the future of farming. And we're just getting started,” Peter adds.

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