Kua Ventures has invested $285,000 (approximately Ksh. 36 million) in Continental Seeds, a Kenyan vegetable seeds company, marking its largest single investment to date. The funding aims to support Continental Seeds’ growth and mission of providing quality seeds, training, and support to farmers across East Africa, ultimately contributing to food security and sustainable agriculture.
Co-founded by Francis Kamau a decade ago, Continental Seeds has established itself as a trusted partner in the agriculture sector. The enterprise imports, tests, and distributes a wide range of vegetable seeds, including hybrids and open-pollinated varieties, to meet the needs of farmers throughout Kenya, Tanzania, and several other African countries.
To improve the capacity of farmers to engage in sustainable agriculture and improve their productivity, Continental Seeds also offers extensive agricultural extension services through its networks of agents who are based at the grassroots.
Photo: Continental Seeds and Kua Ventures teams during the signing event
Commenting on Kua Ventures’ investment, Francis said the funding will enable Continental Seeds to reach a wider network of farmers, encourage young people to be involved in agriculture, and expand their agricultural extension services for improved and sustainable agricultural productivity.
Expanding his network of farmers and agents will be essential in building trust in Kamau’s seed business, which he describes as being rooted in strong relationships with farmers.
“Seeds are a very practical investment and require strong relationships. Farmers need to be confident in the quality of the seeds they purchase. They want to see evidence of how these seeds will grow. They don’t take risks with unproven products; they are never early adopters when it comes to seeds,” he adds.
With Kua Ventures’ support, Continental Seeds will increase its capacity to supply high-quality seeds and create employment opportunities for more people, especially young demographics that have historically shied away from the agricultural sector. The investment also underscores Kua Ventures’ recognition of seeds as a core farm input for the improvement of Africa’s food systems.
As part of the partnership, Kua Ventures will also provide Coaching and Community, enabling Francis and his team optimize the growth of the enterprise, and deliver even greater value to vegetable farmers.