Martin Wainaina

Am a talented skilled Manager with an expert team leadership, planning and organizational skills built during a successful career spanning over 14 years in the Kenyan horticultural, fruit, Vegetable and Essential oil processing sector. Am skilled in Capital (CapEx) & Operational Expenditure (OpEx) projects management, budgeting & cost control, human resource management, crop agronomy, field mechanization, product development, field trials & data analysis.

September 2022 – to date: Working with Pearl of Africa Oils and Nuts Ltd in (Uganda) as an agronomist/Farm Manager in Central Uganda, in charge of 600HA organic and conventional crop farming systems. Currently crops units handled on the farm include fruit and vegetable seedlings Propagation unit, the macadamia plantation(300acres); the avocado plantation (200acres); Tissue culture banana(40acres), sandalwood(50acres), vegetables (cherry tomato, Chilies, Spring onion, bulb onions, turmeric, Bell pepper, Garlic, (100acres), cereal crops (Soyabeans)-(150acres) and essential oil crops(300acres) plantations.

June 2013 – August 2022: Worked with Nanyuki Oils Limited (Formerly Earthoil Extracts Ltd), a subsidiary of Treatt PLC in UK) as a Project/Quality Manager in charge of 800-acre farm (Avocado, essentials oils crops), steam distillation unit, cold press units and seedlings propagation unit. The farming project is in Mount Kenya region with over 2500 contracted organic EU/NOP/Fair for life certified small -medium scale farmers growing avocados, Macadamia, castor and essential oils crops. The essential oil crops included rosemary verbena, tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), lemon tea tree, geranium bourbon, palmarosa, lemon grass and other crops oils for use in Food, Flavor, bio-pesticides and cosmetic industry.

July 2009 – May 2013 -Worked with Avenue Fresh/Timau gardens as a Farm/out grower manager; in charge of three farm sites(400acres) located in Timau (Meru County); Mwea (Kirinyaga county) and an out-grower farming project involved in (yellow passion fruits, Hass avocadoes and macadamia). The main farms field crops mainly included runner beans, French beans, fine beans, sugar snaps, baby corn, garden peas, spring onions, mints, and garlic. The farms also had 20ha of greenhouses/tunnels under soft berries (strawberries, raspberries and black berries all grown using hydroponics system-substrate i.e., cocopeat and pumice. The 30ha tunnels under sugar snaps, chilies, and basil). Other farm Projects were wheat/barley and Potatoes breeding and multiplication.

May 2008 – July 2009 – Worked with FAULU DEPOSIT TAKING MICROFINANCE as business development officer or field loans officer for entrepreneurial groups and wealth (accounts opening) i.e., mobilizing deposits in Kilifi Coast region.

Roles & Responsibilities_____________________________________________________

• Growing the financial business through the recruitment of new and existing clients.
• Recruiting new group clients and handling customers’ queries and complaints.
• Ensuring that all the clients’ accounts are KYC compliant as required by the Central Bank of Kenya.
• Undertaking business appraisals
• Participating in the marketing and activation initiatives run by the company.
• Training and mobilizing groups on a program of global financial literacy with a focus on changing the behavior of the economically active poor (saving Lifestyle)

 2004 - 2008           - Moi University a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture

                                   (Second Class Honors-upper division).   

1999-2002             - Kiambu High School

                                  Kenya Certificate of Secondary education

                                   (Grade B).

1991-1998             - Kirangari Primary School

                      Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. 

OTHER SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS_____________________________________________

• Basic accounting: Certified Public Accountancy (CPA) section 1 and certificate in Computer Proficiency (MS office, Outlook).
• The British Agrochemical Standards Inspection Scheme (BASIS) and Fertilizers Advisers Certification Training Scheme (FACTS) in Horticulture certificate course at Real IPM
• Leadership and management skills course at Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE)
• Permaculture and Organic agriculture training by Ecocert SA and KOAN.
• Train trainers in the Environment, Health and Safety, First aid and fire safety.
• Possess both BCE motor vehicle driving and motorcycle riding license.