Originally the company was formed by a very elite group of aristocrats including as one of the early majority shareholders Denys Finch-Hatton of “Out of Africa” fame. It was consolidated into one holding by Arthur Dudgeon during and after the First World War. In common with much of the Rongai area Gogar was important at this time as one of the main maize growing areas, using the Uganda Railway for transport.

To obtain optimum beef animals Gogar breeding herds of purebred Boran cows are put to Bos Taurus bulls for the production of F1 hybrid beef weeners.

Simmental and Charolais bulls are preferred for the older cows, whereas with Boran heifers we prefer Aberdeen Angus bulls to improve ease of calving.

Friesian bulls are also used to produce dual purpose animals suitable for milk production in harsh conditions as well as beef.

Boran crossbred beef and dual purpose production

Various different genetic combinations are available to suit a variety of applications, for beef and crossbred milk production under harsh conditions.

Gogar is taking the lead in the production of charcoal using high efficiency reusable charcoal kilns. The kilns are made in situ from mud bricks.

The wood comes from Acacia which is harvested on a sustainable basis from grazing land, and from mature stands of Eucalyptus.

We are also planting Eucalyptus which will be utilised partly for charcoal when mature.

The use of charcoal from sustainable sources helps to reduce degradation to the environment from illegal charcoal production.

Almost 20% of the total area of the farm is devoted to the conservation of indigenous forest and scrubland. This includes a wide variety of ecosystems from highland forest contiguous with the Londiani Forest reserve, open acacia woodland, down to riverine forest and scrub along the Molo River. This is one of the few remaining ecosystems of indigenous plants and animals in the Rift Valley and contains a very valuable habitat for other species such as insects.

Gogar Farm has been producing top quality Rhodes Grass seed both for export and for the local market for more than 50 years.

Gogar is a founder shareholder in the Kenya Seed Company, Kenya’s largest exporter of Rhodes Grass seed.

Gogar is a valuable source of dry season conserved feed in the form of hay both for the livestock farmers within the local community who do not have the resources to make hay, and to supply to the Nairobi market.

Based on Gogar since 1993 Redshank Seeds is a market leader in the production high quality hybrid seed under plastic for the European and American market.

This operation is very efficient with water, and provides jobs for up to 300 people from a small area.

Varieties include Petunia, Impatience, Snap dragon, Geranium, Dianthus.

• as much employment as possible

• services to the community, such as schools and clinics

• essential farm inputs at reasonable prices

• farmers demonstration days to encourage sound farming techniques

• extension services for small scale farmers using localtechnicians

• advice and seedlings to encourage planting trees

• top quality livestock

• environmentally sound farming and other practices

• maintaining indigenous plant and animal biodiversity