Building Kenya’s sunflower value chain — from farm to factory to table
Sunflower Hub Africa was born from a simple observation: Kenya imports over 90% of its edible oil, yet we have millions of acres of farmland perfectly suited for sunflower cultivation. The gap between supply and demand represents both a national food security challenge and an extraordinary opportunity for Kenyan farmers.
We set out to bridge this gap by building a complete sunflower value chain — from contracting and supporting farmers across five counties, to processing the harvest into cooking oil, animal feed, and other products. Our model is simple: we guarantee the market so farmers can focus on what they do best — farming.
Headquartered in Nairobi with regional collection centres in Narok, Bungoma, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, and Makueni, we are building a sustainable agricultural enterprise that benefits farmers, communities, and the nation.
To promote sunflower farming and value addition across Kenya by providing farmers with guaranteed market access, agricultural inputs, training, and fair pricing — creating a sustainable and profitable sunflower economy.
A Kenya where every farmer has access to a reliable market for sunflower produce, and where locally produced sunflower oil reduces the nation’s dependence on imported edible oils.
Every farmer who registers with us will receive free certified seeds, free agronomic training, regular extension support, and a written contract guaranteeing we will buy 100% of their sunflower harvest at a fair, pre-agreed price.
The numbers tell a compelling story for farmers and the nation
Kenya consumes over 600,000 metric tonnes of edible oil annually but produces less than 10% locally. The rest is imported, costing the nation billions in foreign exchange. Local sunflower oil production directly addresses this deficit.
Sunflower thrives in Kenya’s semi-arid and sub-humid regions receiving 500-750mm of rainfall. Counties like Narok, Makueni, and Tharaka Nithi have ideal conditions. It requires less water than maize and tolerates poor soils.
The Kenyan government actively promotes sunflower farming under the Big Four Agenda for food security. Various incentive programmes and research institutions support sunflower as a strategic crop for import substitution.
Sunflower oil is rich in Vitamin E, low in saturated fats, and has a high smoke point ideal for cooking. Consumer demand for healthier cooking oils is growing rapidly, creating a premium market for locally produced sunflower oil.
Sunflower cake (the by-product after oil extraction) is a high-protein animal feed valued by dairy, poultry, and fish farmers. This means every part of your sunflower harvest has value — nothing goes to waste.
Sunflower’s deep tap root breaks hardpan, improves soil drainage, and brings nutrients to the surface. Farmers who rotate sunflower with maize or beans consistently report improved yields in subsequent seasons.
From seed to shelf — we manage every step, and you benefit at every stage
We source and distribute certified high-yield sunflower seeds, tailored to each county’s climate and soil conditions. Seed varieties include hybrids capable of producing 1.5-2.5 tonnes per hectare. Agronomic advice on spacing, planting depth, and timing provided free.
Contracted farmers grow sunflower on their own land with ongoing support from our extension officers. We provide training on land preparation, planting, weed control, pest management (specifically sunflower moth and birds), and optimal harvest timing for maximum oil content.
Farmers deliver harvested sunflower to regional collection centres in Narok, Bungoma, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, or Makueni. We weigh, grade for quality (moisture content, purity, oil content), and issue payment within 7 days of delivery.
Collected seeds are transported to our processing facility where they are cleaned, roasted, and mechanically pressed to extract pure sunflower oil. Cold-pressing technology preserves the oil’s nutritional value and natural flavour.
The sunflower cake remaining after oil extraction is processed into high-protein livestock feed. With 30-35% protein content, sunflower cake is an excellent feed ingredient for dairy cows, poultry layers, and tilapia fish farming — creating additional value from every harvest.
Finished sunflower oil is packaged and distributed to retailers, hotels, institutions, and individual consumers across Kenya. By building a strong “Made in Kenya” sunflower oil brand, we create sustainable demand that supports continuous farmer production cycles.
Every acre of sunflower you plant brings Kenya closer to edible oil self-sufficiency — and puts money in your pocket.