The industry has matured considerably over the past three years. When we last spoke, the conversation was largely about access and availability – getting quality inputs into farmers’ hands. Today, the conversation has shifted towards sustainability, regulation, and data.” Since our previous interview in August 2023 with Rushabh Shah, Chief Business Officer at Osho Chemical Industries Ltd. (Osho Chemicals), there has been a clear move towards biological and 2 | Africa Outlook Issue 121
integrated solutions as farmers, regulators, and consumers all become more conscious of residues and resistance management. The regulatory environment has tightened too, both at the Kenyan level through the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) and across the wider East African Community (EAC) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) markets, which is a positive development – it raises the bar on quality and pushes out counterfeit and substandard
products, which has long been a challenge for the sector. At the same time, the macro environment has been demanding; currency volatility, the cost of imported raw materials, climate variability, and shifting tax policy have all tested resilience. “What we’ve learned is that the companies that invest in local manufacturing, genuine farmer relationships, and their own people are the ones that come through these cycles the strongest. That has very much shaped how we’ve run Osho
OSHO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LTD. MANUFACTURING
Pan-African Dream From expanding into new markets to launching new products, developing a sales automation platform, and achieving numerous awards, it’s been a busy three years for Osho Chemical Industries Ltd. We catch up once more with Rushabh Shah, Chief Business Officer, who updates us on recent developments as it seeks to become a pan-African business – reaching farmers across the continent Writer: Jack Salter | Project Manager: Andrew Marjoram
Chemicals over the last three years,” Shah reflects.
MARKET EXPANSION Osho Chemicals began as an industrial chemicals trading business in Kenya before identifying the opportunity to transform the agricultural input landscape across East and Southern Africa. Today, it is the leading manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of crop protection, animal health, public health, and industrial chemical products, as well as farm
equipment and allied products and services. Headquartered in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, where it operates the largest agrochemical manufacturing facility in East and Central Africa, the company now has a direct presence across a further five markets – Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, and Malawi – with Ethiopia now coming onstream. “Expansion into new markets is a core part of our growth strategy, and Ethiopia is where our focus and energy are right now,” outlines Shah.
Ethiopia is a large market with enormous agricultural potential and a farming population that stands to benefit significantly from access to quality crop protection, animal health, and public health solutions. “We already have feet on the ground in Ethiopia – our team is established and in place – and we are working through the final registration formalities before we can trade at full scale. It’s an exciting position to be in because the hard groundwork of building a local presence and capability is already done,” he tells us. Africa Outlook Issue 121 | 3
OSHO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LTD. MANUFACTURING
What role do family business values play at Osho Chemicals? Rushabh Shah, Chief Business Officer: “Osho Chemicals was founded as a family business in 1993, and the way we run the company still reflects that origin – a long-term view rather than a quarter-by-quarter one, decisions taken with our name attached to them, and a genuine sense of responsibility towards the people who work here and the farmers who trust us.
“That reflects how we approach new markets generally. Rather than simply exporting product, we build a genuine local presence – establishing distribution, putting technical and agronomic support on the ground, and navigating each country’s registration and regulatory requirements properly. That groundwork takes time, but it allows us to serve farmers sustainably and responsibly over the long term.” The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), meanwhile, remains firmly on Osho Chemicals’ radar as a market of real long-term potential. It continues to evaluate the DRC, however entering a market well matters far more to the company than entering quickly. “Our immediate priority is doing right by Ethiopia whilst deepening our leadership across our existing footprint – particularly in animal health and public health, where we intend to be the number one brand of choice for our customers,” Shah affirms.
POINTS OF PRIDE Alongside expansion into new 4 | Africa Outlook Issue 121
markets, there is much for the company to be proud of since we last spoke three years ago. For example, Osho Chemicals has brought 28 new products to market – that pace of innovation is only possible because of its investment in R&D and local manufacturing. “It reflects a deliberate strategy of staying ahead of farmers’ evolving needs, whether that’s resistance management, the shift towards biologicals and more sustainable solutions, or filling gaps in our animal health and public health portfolios,” states Shah. Then there’s Osho Chemicals’ independent validation by Ipsos as Kenya’s number one farmer brand, a result that means a great deal as it came from farmers themselves through an independent, credible research process. The company’s own proprietary sales automation software, Osho Force, has also been developed and rolled out, giving a genuinely deep insight into how its teams are engaging with farmers on the ground – who they’re reaching, how often, and to what effect.
“That is what allowed us, for instance, to absorb cost pressures rather than pass them straight on to farmers during difficult years. It’s why a company of 565 still feels like a family and why our people call themselves ‘Osholites’ – through them, our products touch the lives of an estimated 10 million farmers across the region. “I think it’s the quiet reason behind a lot of the recognition we have received – the workplace awards and the trust farmers place in the brand. Values are easy to put on a wall; living them over three decades is what actually builds a business.”
OSHO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LTD. MANUFACTURING
Osho Force has transformed how the company manages and coaches its commercial teams and means decisions are now driven by real data on farmer engagement rather than instinct. “For a business whose model is built on going to the shamba, being able to measure and improve engagement at scale is a significant step forward,” Shah emphasises.
Osho Chemicals has also stepped up its investment in biological products and integrated solutions in recent years. This is where the market is heading – driven by resistance management, residue requirements in export crops, and rising consumer and regulatory expectations – and the company intends to lead rather than follow. “Building this capability locally,
“Expansion into new markets is a core part of our growth strategy, and Ethiopia is where our focus and energy are right now” – RUSHABH SHAH, CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER, OSHO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LTD.
and pairing it with the agronomic support farmers need to use these products effectively, is central to how we see the next decade of African agriculture,” he sets out.
SUPPORTING WOMEN Another recent proud achievement for Osho Chemicals is being recognised as the Best Workplace for Women in Kenya by Great Place to Work Kenya. This demonstrates the company’s commitment to building an inclusive, supportive, and empowering environment where women can thrive, excel, and lead with confidence. “We’re genuinely proud of this recognition because it reflects everyday practice rather than any one-off initiative,” highlights Shah.
Africa Outlook Issue 121 | 5
OSHO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LTD. MANUFACTURING
“Supporting women is part of our culture, and the award is an independent affirmation of years of intentional effort.” In practical terms, Osho Chemicals upholds fair and transparent recruitment, promotion, and pay practices to ensure equal opportunities for growth and leadership. Moreover, the company provides flexible working arrangements where possible to support worklife balance, alongside structured career development and continuous learning. “We’ve also put concrete measures in place, including a dedicated mothers’ room that gives nursing mothers a supportive and dignified environment,” Shah adds. “For us, inclusion is both a cultural priority and a business imperative; inclusion and equal opportunities build trust, drive innovation, and sustain long-term performance. When women across every department can thrive, excel, and lead with confidence, the whole organisation is stronger for it.” 6 | Africa Outlook Issue 121
WORKPLACE VALIDATION Likewise, being named Africa’s Top Manufacturer by CIO Africa is an achievement Osho Chemicals holds in very high regard. It’s the result of decades of consistent effort – a validation of the company’s dedication to quality manufacturing, customer trust, and continuous improvement. “In an increasingly competitive and globalised manufacturing landscape, it positions Osho Chemicals as
Osho Chemicals’ crop protection range • Insecticides • Fungicides • Herbicides • Foliar fertilisers • Biological products • Growth media • Spraying equipment
a benchmark for what African manufacturing can achieve at worldclass standards,” acclaims Shah. Being ranked the No. 2 Best Workplace in Kenya by Great Place to Work is equally meaningful because it comes directly from the voices of Osho Chemicals’ own people through a confidential, data-driven survey. These awards matter commercially as well as culturally as they give credible, independent validation of the workplace, which reinforces pride and loyalty amongst existing colleagues and helps Osho Chemicals attract skilled professionals who value purpose, growth, and fairness. “Motivated, satisfied employees are more focused, accountable, and quality-conscious. In a manufacturing environment, that translates directly into improved safety, higher productivity, better quality output, and reduced inefficiency,” Shah insights. Last year, Osho Chemicals also made its debut at the CIO100 Awards and walked away as the winner of the PlusOne Awards Manufacturing Sector 2025.
The Africa MICE Hub is building the intelligence, connections and platforms that enable Africa to complete for and maximize the economic value of business events.
20+ COME TO THE AFRICA MICE SUMMIT TO:
Africa MICE Summit is a strategic convergence of government, destinations, investors, corporate and association buyers, event professionals, hospitality, venues, technology, tourism and many other key stakeholders shaping the future of Africa’s business events economy.
An Initiative of the Africa MICE Hub Ecosystem www.africamicehub.com
+254 705 761 111
info@africamicehub.com
OSHO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LTD. MANUFACTURING
Where the company has genuinely pulled ahead is making that closeness
The CIO100 is a pan-African platform that recognises digital leadership across banking, telecommunications, healthcare, energy, and every other sector – the titans of African industry. “What makes this award particularly meaningful is who we were up against. For an agrochemical manufacturer to stand on that stage in its first year and win says something important – that technology leadership in Africa is not the preserve of the sectors people expect it from. It’s validation of the digital transformation work we have been quietly doing for years and the team behind it,” prides Shah.
engaging with farmers on the ground.
CLEAR SENSE OF DIRECTION
What makes Osho Chemicals one of the leading agrochemical suppliers in Kenya? Local manufacturing – The company has always believed in producing locally rather than simply importing and repackaging, and that conviction has given it the largest manufacturing facility in East and Central Africa. It means better
quality control, shorter lead times, products formulated for local conditions, and resilience when global supply chains are disrupted.
Measurable closeness to the farmer – Osho Chemicals’ model is built on going to the shamba – meeting growers in their fields, running farmer outreach and
training programmes, and designing solutions around real agronomic problems rather than selling off a shelf. That depth of relationship, supported by its distributor and stockist network, is very hard to replicate.
measurable, with Osho Force providing deep insight into how its teams are People and integrity – People are central to who Osho Chemicals is. The
company invests heavily in technical capability and a strong, values-driven culture, as well as taking a firm stance against counterfeit and substandard
products. For farmers and distributors, the Osho Chemicals name has come to mean quality they can trust – and in this industry, trust is everything.
8 | Africa Outlook Issue 121
Vision 2028 gives Osho Chemicals a clear sense of direction, and at the heart of it is an ambition to become a pan-African business – reaching farmers in every corner of the continent, not just the markets served today.
“For a business whose model is built on going to the shamba, being able to measure and improve engagement at scale is a significant step forward” – RUSHABH SHAH, CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER, OSHO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LTD.
“That is the dream, and everything we are building is pointed towards it,” Shah enthuses. Technology is central to that vision, with the company placing significant emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) and precision agriculture, which it believes will define the next era of African farming. Precision agriculture allows farmers to apply the right input, in the right place, at the right time – improving yields whilst reducing waste, cost, and environmental impact. Combined with AI, it gives Osho Chemicals the ability to turn data
into genuinely actionable agronomic advice at scale. “Osho Force has already shown us what’s possible when you bring real data to farmer engagement, and that is only the beginning,” notes Shah. Alongside, the company’s other priorities are portfolio leadership – particularly in animal health, public health, and biologicals, where it intends to be the number one brand of choice – and continued investment in manufacturing capacity and capability to keep raising the standard for what local African manufacturing can deliver.
Underpinning everything is Osho Chemicals’ commitment to its people and the farmers it serves. “Scale means nothing if we lose the closeness to the farmer that got us here. Vision 2028 is ambitious, but it’s built on the same foundations that have carried us for over three decades: quality, trust, and going to the shamba,” closes Shah.
Toll free: (+254) 800 724 211 customercare@oshochem.com
www.oshochem.com
Africa Outlook Issue 121 | 9
Toll free: (+254) 800 724 211 Call: (+254) 711 045 000 | (+254) 732 167 000 WhatsApp: +254 791 720 516 | SMS: 20560 Email: customercare@oshochem.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@oshochem Online shop: shop.oshochem.com www.oshochem.com
PRODUCED BY AFRICA OUTLOOK MAGAZINE