AECF concludes two-week seed systems training to strengthen Africa’s agricultural value chains

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nairobi, Kenya, October 18, 2025 — The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) has successfully concluded a two-week seed systems training at the University of Nairobi’s Seed Enterprise Management Institute (SEMIs), marking a key milestone in AECF’s ongoing commitment to building resilient, high-performing and resilient agricultural enterprises across Africa.

The training, led by AECF’s Advisory team under the Seeds for Impact (SIP 2.0) and Investing in Women (IIW) programmes, brought together 19 technical staff and enterprise leaders from Tanzania, Nigeria, and South Sudan.  The initiative is part of AECF’s broader mission to go beyond financing, providing technical assistance that closes operational and knowledge gaps across agribusiness serving smallholder farmers.

“At AECF, we believe that strong and resilient enterprises are the true catalysts of agricultural transformation,” said Charles Wainaina, Head of Advisory Services, AECF. “By investing in seed quality, strengthening management practices, and improving access to markets, we are laying the foundation for greater productivity, profitability, and food security for farmers and communities across Africa.”

Over the two-week course, participants engaged in comprehensive, hands-on modules on seed production, processing, quality assurance, and marketing. The training combined classroom learning with field-based experience, including a technical visit to the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) Lanet in Nakuru County. At the ISTA-accredited KEPHIS laboratory, trainees explored seed health diagnostics, certification protocols, and international quality assurance standards, bridging theory with practical application.

The University of Nairobi’s SEMIs served as the training host institution, providing specialized infrastructure and faculty expertise in seed systems development. The curriculum was tailored to enhance participants’ competencies in:

• Agronomy of early generation and certified seed production.
• Post-harvest handling, processing, and storage.
• Seed health, testing, and certification procedures.
• Marketing strategies and business planning for seed enterprises.
• Leadership, financial management, and strategic growth planning.

The training forms part of AECF’s broader effort to build sustainable agribusiness ecosystems that deliver lasting impact to smallholder farmers. Under the SIP 2.0 programme, AECF is strengthening the technical capacity of African seed companies to produce and distribute improved, climate-resilient crop varieties, addressing long-standing challenges of low productivity and limited access to quality seed.

Through AECF’s Advisory Services, the programme also supports enterprises in embedding sound operational practices, ensuring that funded companies have the skills and systems to sustain growth beyond grant support.

The two-week engagement concluded with a Certificate Award Ceremony, celebrating the achievements of the participants and reaffirming the partnership between AECF, SEMIs, KEPHIS, and the University of Nairobi in advancing Africa’s agricultural transformation agenda.

“Building capacity is the cornerstone of enterprise sustainability,” noted Prof. Muthomi, Chair, Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi. “Through collaborations like this, we are strengthening the seed systems that underpin Africa’s food security.”

About AECF
AECF (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund) is a leading non-profit development organization that supports innovative enterprises in the agribusiness and renewable energy sectors with the aim of reducing rural poverty, promoting resilient communities, and creating jobs.

Media Contact
Communications Office – AECF
Email: fwachira@aecfafrica.org