When I first visited Select Breeding at their new show case at Naivasha, it was on invitation by Michael de Geus; the Managing Director, Select breeding. This was on 25th to 27th of January when the company held their first showhouse at Oserian two lakes to display their commercial varieties available in the market and other new varieties.

I met a team honoured to satisfy the curiosity of their customers who kept on tripling every minute courting for their attention. By count I could not tell the number of times they walked in to the new show case with a different customer then back to the reception area for either continual discussion with the same client or for a fresh discussion with a new client. On a close follow up, I realized that inside the show case was more technical and less commercial whereas in the reception was more commercial and less technical. These men had a wide knowledge of the two worlds of rose breeding. In between the customers, I stole some few minutes and managed to get a few minutes of interview with several of them. “Select breeding tests their latest cultivars and showcases their commercial varieties which are already planted for display”, says Mr. Michael The event was a kickstart for the year, moving forward growers, rose’s buyers and other stakeholders in the industry are highly welcomed to visit the showhouse at Oserian two lakes company during working hours to explore commercial varieties and new varieties in select breeding’s showhouse.

Select Breeders varieties.
In any discussion with growers, the name Volcano will be in most of their lips. It has left memorable ideas, images and stories in growers’ minds. However, you will be unknowledgeable to think that it is the only variety criss-crossing their lips. Sun palace and Karma have also been the talk in most growers’ forums. In addition Arisha has also been doing well in the market as a high productive white. Following the success of most of their varieties, the company is set to introduce many more into the market.

Why Naivasha?
Before conception of the idea, one thing was clear to the managements’ minds, success of their varieties. Though they have their breeding in Holland and Colombia, there was need to show the growers the actual specifications of the varieties they chose under the same circumstances they are growing themselves. Growers in Kenya will be able to determine the actual stem length, production, head size, vase life and colour. In addition, the company will be able to collect data on their varieties and many codes tested in Naivasha which will help them translate this back into their breeding program.

With this in mind, they settled for Naivasha the hub of flower growing in Kenya. In 2012 the company actively started its operations in Kenya. Towards the end of last year the company launched its headquarters at Oserian Development Company which is now dubbed as Oserian two lakes so as to offer; test-showhouse services to their esteemed clients.

State of the Art Investment
The company has invested a lot in research activities; it does its main breeding in Holland and other represantives in Columbia which covers the Latin America market.They have dedicated their time and resources to enhance outstanding commercial qualities, release policy and adaptive supply. To achieve their vision, Select breeding has learnt over the years the need to work closely with growers and roses buyers during the development and introduction of new varieties so as to maintain competitive prices for roses in the market.

The looming competition in breeding business has made Select breeding emphasize on specific cultivar characteristics which are on high demand in different markets. Their development of quality cultivars and maintenance of a release policy has provided excellent results in new varieties. They have tailored their varieties for both higher and lower altitudes. Select breeding entirely have a sense for roses.

After sales service.
Select Breeding believes in partnering with their customers. This is why they have invested a lot in marketing their varieties to flower consumers. They regularly visit marketing outlets to promote their varieties to the end consumers. The company staff regularly discuss with growers on how to position the different varieties into the market. This ensures they do not flood the market and kill the variety. In addition, they frequently pull and push into the market different varieties for growers’ benefit. As we say at Select Breeding ‘we have a sense for roses’.

Though this is not enough, the team is only a phone call away from the growers for any technical support. Even before this, the company has what they call an early client involvement program as a joint effort with growers to select the best varieties. This is the involvement of the major clients in selection of the different varieties. It helps them to make decisions on the best varieties. They regularly visit the growers for trial follow ups and discuss the performance of the variety in the farm.

Parting Shot
Next time when you visit Naivasha, pay a visit to the two lakes company, a dedicated team is awaiting to take you through some of the best rose varieties in the country.