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Flowering twice a year, the tree produces small brown nuts that usually end up decomposing on the ground.</span></strong><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:23.4pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-size:0.975rem'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>While others previously saw more value in removing the trees, Cosmas Ochieng, CEO of EcoFix Kenya, is carving out a business turning the nuts into biofuel and various other added-value products such as fertiliser, animal feed and cosmetics. “We wanted to introduce a new cash crop,” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:23.4pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-size:0.975rem'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>The business model encourages local farmers to plant and harvest croton trees rather than other crops by offering them a reliable source of income. The nuts are then processed at the company’s factory into a variety of products. EcoFix processes over 3,000 tonnes of croton nut each year, working with over 6,000 farmers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:23.4pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-size:0.975rem'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>The company was started in 2012 with the sole purpose of using the nuts to create biofuel. Clients in Kenya included large-scale corporates like multinational food company Del Monte which used the biofuel for its diesel generators. Croton oil can also power water pumps and tractor engines. Compared to other fuels such as diesel, croton is cheaper and generates far less carbon dioxide emissions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>However, Ochieng opted to diversify as it became clear an over-reliance on fuel contracts would not sustain long-term business growth. “Around 90% of the nut is wasted when you produce biofuel,” he explains.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h4 style='mso-margin-top-alt:18.7pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:2.5pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;line-height:initial;font-size:1.25rem;-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>Diversifying the product range</span></b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></h4><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:23.4pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-size:0.975rem'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>Croton nuts form the basis of several products, such as high-protein supplements that are sold to poultry farmers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:23.4pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-size:0.975rem'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>EcoFix also uses the nuts to make organic fertiliser. In the early days, Ochieng would sell the fertiliser to smallholder farmers. However, the croton-based fertiliser is more expensive than the chemical equivalents and takes longer to take effect as it changes the composition of the soil rather than targeting only the plant. Ochieng pivoted away from smallholder farmers to large corporates that better understand the benefits of organic fertiliser.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:23.4pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-size:0.975rem'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>“Many farmers want to see instant changes. That’s not how it works. I realised I needed money for marketing to convince these smallholders.” Ochieng now sells to the many flower and vegetable producers in Kenya.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>The pivot away from smallholders, however, illustrates some of the added problems that come with innovating around a product that is relatively unknown in the market. From convincing smallholders to keep the trees, to explaining to businesses that croton biofuel is an effective source of energy, extra attention was required to familiarise customers with croton products.<br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:23.4pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-size:0.975rem'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>Ochieng’s latest innovation is a cosmetic brand based on croton oil called NEA by Nature. “In our research, we found croton nuts have unique physical elements including high moisturising properties,” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:23.4pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-size:0.975rem'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>Using croton oil instead of palm oil as a base for products like soap and face masks, Ochieng is targeting a niche market of conscientious consumers. He intends to grow this business line over the coming years as a leading diversification away from biofuel.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h4 style='mso-margin-top-alt:18.7pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:2.5pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;line-height:initial;font-size:1.25rem;-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>Spotting value in croton nuts</span></b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></h4><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:23.4pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-size:0.975rem'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>The decision to turn croton nuts into a viable business was a result of Ochieng’s background in conservation and his education as a food scientist. During his undergraduate degree in Kenya, Ochieng researched the different properties of pumpkin seeds and pumpkin oil. “I realised every seed has more value than we see.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><img border=0 width=800 height=533 id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image006.jpg@01D76D94.3D5B25D0" alt="https://hwmiia.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/28115652/Cosmas-Ecofix-800x533-1.jpg"></span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Cosmas Ochieng, CEO of EcoFix Kenya.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'><br>After university, the young entrepreneur worked with an NGO in natural resource management where he became aware of the croton tree and how it was being cut down by local communities. He began investigating the business potential of croton nuts.<br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:23.4pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-size:0.975rem'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>Nearly a decade later, Ochieng has expanded his business in terms of several key metrics. Starting out in just one of Kenya’s 47 counties, EcoFix is now collecting croton nuts from 21 counties. The volume of nuts has increased fivefold from an initial 600 tonnes per year. The team has also expanded dramatically from the original core managerial group of three people.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h4 style='mso-margin-top-alt:18.7pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:2.5pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;line-height:initial;font-size:1.25rem;-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>Next growth stage</span></b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></h4><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:23.4pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-size:0.975rem'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>The next stage in the business will include building another factory alongside the original processing plant in Nanyuki, a town around 200km north of the capital city Nairobi. Ochieng is hoping to ramp up the cosmetics line and begin exporting to lucrative markets like the US and UK.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:23.4pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-size:0.975rem'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>To date, the business has been financed by equity investors and a few grants. Additional funds will be raised next year from investors as Ochieng looks to scale up the business.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:23.4pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-size:0.975rem'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>If he could change anything about the past nine years, Ochieng says he would have diversified away from biofuel sooner. Having a trusted team able to suggest scalable ideas is key to “focusing on a product that makes money”.-Howwemadeitinafrica<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><img border=0 width=800 height=534 id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image007.jpg@01D76D94.3D5B25D0" alt="https://hwmiia.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/28115707/croton-nuts-800x533-1.jpg"></span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>EcoFix sources croton nuts from local communities.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:23.4pt;margin-left:0cm;background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:24.0pt;line-height:22.8pt;background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.35pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 style='width:4.4pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:10.05pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:10.05pt'><td width=6 style='width:4.4pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:10.05pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:10.05pt'><td width=6 style='width:4.4pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:10.05pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:10.05pt'><td width=927 valign=top style='width:695.6pt;border-top:none;border-left:solid white 1.0pt;border-bottom:none;border-right:solid white 1.0pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:10.05pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%;background:white'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'>Invest Wisely!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%;background:white'><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'>Bulls n Bears </span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%;background:white'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%;background:white'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'>Cellphone: </span><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><a href="tel:%2B263%2077%20344%201674" target="_blank"><span lang=EN-US style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>+263 77 344 1674</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%;background:white'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'>Alt. Email: </span><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><a href="mailto:info@bulls.co.zw"><span lang=EN-US style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>info@bulls.co.zw</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%;background:white'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'>Website: </span><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><a href="http://www.bullszimbabwe.com"><span lang=EN-US style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>www.bullszimbabwe.com</span></a></span><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'> </span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%;background:white'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'>Blog: </span><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><a href="https://bullszimbabwe.com/category/blogs/bullish-thoughts/" target="_blank"><span lang=EN-US style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>www.bullszimbabwe.com/blog</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%;background:white'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'>Twitter: @bullsbears2010<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%;background:white'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'>LinkedIn: Bulls n Bears Zimbabwe<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%;background:white'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'>Facebook: </span><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FBullsBearsZimbabwe&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGhb_A5rp4biV1dGHbgiAhUxQqBXA" target="_blank"><span lang=EN-US style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>www.facebook.com/BullsBearsZimbabwe</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'>Skype: Bulls.Bears <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><img border=0 width=278 height=110 id="Picture_x0020_5" src="cid:image005.png@01D6FBBE.85AC06D0" alt="cid:image005.png@01D6FBBE.85AC06D0"></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-left:36.0pt;line-height:115%;background:white'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=6 style='width:4.4pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:10.05pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width=927 valign=top style='width:695.6pt;border-top:none;border-left:solid white 1.0pt;border-bottom:none;border-right:solid white 1.0pt;background:#1F497D;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 style='width:4.4pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width=927 valign=top style='width:695.6pt;border-top:none;border-left:solid white 1.0pt;border-bottom:none;border-right:solid white 1.0pt;background:#1F497D;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:white'>DISCLAIMER: This report has been prepared by Bulls ‘n Bears, a division of Faith Capital (Pvt) Ltd for general information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for any securities. The information contained in this report has been compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty is made or guarantee given as to its accuracy or completeness. All opinions expressed and recommendations made are subject to change without notice. Securities or financial instruments mentioned herein may not be suitable for all investors. Securities of emerging and mid-size growth companies typically involve a higher degree of risk and more volatility than the securities of more established companies. Neither Faith Capital nor any other member of Bulls ‘n Bears nor any other person, accepts any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this report or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Recipients of this report shall be solely responsible for making their own independent investigation into the business, financial condition and future prospects of any companies referred to in this report. Other Indices quoted herein are for guideline purposes only and sourced from third parties.</span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 style='width:4.4pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width=927 valign=top style='width:695.6pt;border-top:none;border-left:solid white 1.0pt;border-bottom:none;border-right:solid white 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 style='width:4.4pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width=927 valign=top style='width:695.6pt;border-top:none;border-left:solid white 1.0pt;border-bottom:none;border-right:solid white 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>(c) 2021 <b>Web</b>:</span><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><a href="http://www.bullszimbabwe.com"><span lang=EN-US style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'> www.bullszimbabwe.com </span></a></span><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Email:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> </span><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><a href="mailto:info@bulls.co.zw"><span lang=EN-US style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>info@bulls.co.zw</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> <b>Tel:</b> +263 4 2927658 <b>Cell:</b> +263 77 344 1674<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 style='width:4.4pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width=927 valign=bottom style='width:695.6pt;border-top:none;border-left:solid white 1.0pt;border-bottom:none;border-right:solid white 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 style='width:4.4pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>