Multi-million seedlings empire that grew from Sh25

What can you do with Sh25?

Not much, you imagine, but this is all Charles Macharia needed.

He quit working as a cobbler and fully immersed himself into growing and selling seedlings, and now he is a renowned magnate in Nakuru.

Commonly known as Ndarugu among his peers and Nakuru County residents, he strives to maintain his statute as the county’s leading seedlings grower for over 15 years now.

The 45 year old entrepreneur started the seedlings growing project in the year 2000, without anticipating the returns and great success that he now gets from his decision to get into seedlings entrepreneurship.

As a little boy, he planted seedlings only as a mimicry of what his father did. He hadn’t realized that what he superficially practiced then, as a kid, would one day give him great fortunes in life.

“From my childhood, I have always been thrilled and passionate about planting trees. Before I even had the notion of making money out of trees, I planted them and freely gave away to my friends, neighbours and family members to plant” he says.

So how much money did he invest in the venture, building his bridge to prosperity?

“I only had Sh25, from my cobbler business. A certain lady, having previously noticed my passion about seedlings, wondered why I only mended shoes when I could earn more from seedlings. She directed me to where I could buy vegetable seedlings and re-sell them, and after making this discovery, I woke early the following day and headed to buy the seedlings.

I bought 60 collard greens/ kales seedlings at Sh10, 60 spinach seedlings at the same price and 30 cabbage seedlings at Sh5.

I then proceeded to the market in Nakuru and sold each seedling at Sh1, earning Sh150 from my initial Sh25," he narrates.

BIG RETURNS

After that day’s 500 percent profit, Ndarugu did not hesitate in building and expanding his small business venture.

He borrowed a bicycle from his brother, which he used to transport the seedlings from where he bought them to the market.

He soon started growing his own seedlings and selling them, earning enough to buy himself his own bicycle.

He sold seedlings for the subsequent three years, making a daily profit of Sh3,000, as customers were now buying the seedlings directly from his farm.
Soon he employed two helpers to assist him in running the venture.

It is this success that enabled him to buy his first plot of land measuring 40 by 80ft, in 2003, at a cost of Sh33,000.

That heralded further expansion to his project, venturing into flower, vegetable, fruits, eucalyptus, and cypress trees seedlings’ growing.

He further expanded his base, to an acre and began selling his customers flower pots and vases.

By the year 2005, he had no reason not to own a small lorry, for the purpose of transporting the seedlings to his numerous customers’ homes or whenever they intended to plant their seedlings.

He employed more workers, making it eight permanent employees, each earning Sh300 daily.

His wife manages now and supervises the entire processes of planting and care of the seedlings.

As at the moment, Mr Macharia has planted 10 million seedlings, with his farm containing 2 million seedlings at each given time.

Many people plant trees during the rainy season and that’s when he earns most, getting Sh200,000 each day, while in the dry season, he earns Sh100,000.

“I hardly ever make less than Sh10,000 each day. I used to sell all my seedlings and have a hard time explaining to more coming customers about where to get more. That’s why I now plant seedlings every week, to ensure their constant supply, at different stages of growth," he alludes.

HELPING OTHER FARMERS

The seedlings’ prices vary and range from Sh1 to Sh5,000, depending on their type and the period it takes to grow and mature.

Kales, cabbages, capsicum, onions, tomatoes, cauliflower, beetroot, spinach and garlic seedlings cost Sh1 each.

Travellers' Palm seedlings go for Sh2,000 each, Italian Cypress for Sh1,000, Rubber for Sh1,000, Acacia for Sh800, Bamboo for Sh500, American Cypress for Sh350, Phoenix Palm for Sh350, Umbrella Terminalia for Sh300, Carnation for Sh150, Nandi Flame for Sh100 and Six different types of Rose Flowers for Sh100 each, among others.

Mango, custard, orange, lemon, melon, guava, passion fruit, strawberry, grape and papaya seedlings, among others, sell for between Sh50 and Sh4,000.

At between Sh120 and Sh4,000, you can buy flower pots and vases from his business venture, depending on size and design.

“I make a profit of not less than Sh500,000, at the end of every month, from my tree seedlings. People now call me Mtu wa miti, as that is the impression I exude to them whenever they see me.” Said Mr Macharia beaming with contentment.

Away from selling seedlings, Mr Macharia has ventured into landscaping, flower garden-making and seedbed making enterprise.

“Individuals pay Sh400,000 for the entire job, while big hotels, organisations and companies pay up to Sh800,000 for the same. I have no need for employment, as I employ myself," he says.

From his endeavours, he has been able to purchase nine more plots, one on which he keeps dairy cows and kienyeji chicken, while they also provide manure for his seedlings.

He has also managed to buy a lorry for transporting the seedlings and a car for his personal journeys.

Nakuru County Tree Nursery Association (NCTNA), having witnessed his accomplishments, elected him as their chairman three years ago. He now tries to grow the small tree farmers, usually without pay, throughout Nakuru County.

He strives to ensure that such farmers are not exploited by brokers who buy the seedlings cheaply and re-sell them expensively.

He also organises for the markets for the farmers’ seedlings, as well as finding them recommended seeds from Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI).
“Whenever I assist these farmers, we all build our lives together, day by day, without leaving anyone out.

Success for each one of our county’s residents, means joy and happiness for the entire Nakuru County. And this keeps unemployment at bay," he says..