By Antynet Ford

Farmers in Kieni, Nyeri County, are now earning up to Sh270,000 an acre from canola after shifting from traditional crops such as potatoes and maize to supply a local oil processor that offers a ready market.

Kieni Canola Oil founder David Kimondo said the number of farmers growing canola has kept rising since he started buying the crop in 2007. “When we started in 2007, farmers in Kieni were concentrating on potatoes, beans, onions, vegetables and maize,” said David. “But when they learnt that the weather in Kieni favours canola and that they have a ready market from us, the number has been constantly growing.”

The company now contracts local farmers for steady supply and no longer faces shortages. “The challenge that was there of farmers not growing canola has changed. We now have supplier farmers whom we have contracted for supply and never lack the same,” he said.

Canola, which thrives in dry and sunny conditions, has proved well suited to Kieni’s low rainfall. “Canola does not need a lot of water. It requires just average amounts of water and lots of sunlight,” said David. “The more the seeds dry, the more they produce oil.”

Farmers need about four kilograms of seed per acre and can harvest 1–1.5 tonnes of canola, producing over a litre of oil for every three kilograms of seed. With canola seed selling between Sh70 and Sh180 a kilo, growers now make Sh105,000 to Sh270,000 an acre a season, while input and labour costs remain below Sh10,000 an acre.

Kieni Canola Oil currently processes about 70 litres of oil a day from three 90kg bags of seed, which take about four hours to press. The oil sells from Sh100 for 100 millilitres upwards.

David said demand for the oil is strong, sometimes exceeding what he can buy. “Sometimes it’s me who directs farmers to the big players when I have purchased enough for the season, though I would love to improve on my capacity because the demand is huge,” he said.

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He has also begun training wheat farmers on rotating canola with wheat to raise their returns. “It has attracted many people into the farming,” he said. He also uses agricultural events to teach consumers about the health benefits of canola oil and has developed herbal-infused oils for health-conscious buyers after his products were approved by the Natural Products Industry (NPI).

As more farmers join the supply chain, David said canola has taken root in Kieni. “Many farmers always call to inform me when the crop is ready for harvest,” he said. “It shows how far we have come since 2007.”