Stevia: a Sweetener for Kenyan Exporters – and Farmers’ Pockets

June 24,2013

A natural sweetener is providing Kenyan farmers with an opportunity to be a part of a rapidly growing supply chain that includes several other countries from around the world.

Stevia, known worldwide as a natural sweetener, comes from plants that are grown in the tropics and subtropics. The leaves of the popular plant are sweet and ideal for people conscious of their sugar and carbohydrate intake. With zero calories, the plant is being recognized as a great replacement for sugar and other sweeteners.

Ajay Chandran is Global Marketing Director of PureCircle, the world’s leading producer and marketer of stevia products. He said Africa is a critical part of their mission to mainstream the plant as the next natural sweetener, and they are working with about fifteen hundred farmers in Kenya to grow it.

“We work very closely with the farmers because we think it’s integral and important that they are successful as they grow this new crop. And we have in place close to 140 technicians who are actually working with the farmers very closely on a daily basis to make sure they have the right tools, have the right agronomic expertise and information to grow stevia in a successful manner,” explained Chandran.

The company provides farmers with a contract prior to the growing period so they know the price they’ll receive for the crop at the end of the season.