Grow to Order.
Never Oversupply.
Contract Farming by Highland Brands gives retailers, exporters, and wholesalers a managed, certified, predictable supply of fresh produce — grown to your specification, at a fraction of the cost of managing farms yourself.
95%
Contract renewal rate
30+
Crop varieties available
500+
Active contracted farms
7 days
Farmer payment cycle
The Concept
What is Contract Farming?
Contract farming is a formal pre-harvest arrangement where a buyer commits to purchasing a defined volume of produce at an agreed price — before planting begins. In exchange, the farmer receives certified inputs, expert agronomic guidance, and access to logistics — eliminating the guesswork on both sides.
Highland Brands acts as the programme manager: we recruit and onboard farmers, manage all field operations through our agronomist network, handle logistics and certification, and guarantee delivery to the buyer. You get the produce; we handle everything else.
This model has transformed agricultural supply chains globally — from Kenyan flower farms supplying Tesco to Thai shrimp farms supplying Walmart. It works because it aligns the incentives of every party in the chain.
How it works in brief
Buyer commits → Farmer plants → Highland manages → Buyer receives
The Process
How It Works
Contract Signed
Buyer and Highland Brands agree on crop, volume, quality spec, price, and delivery schedule.
Farmers Recruited
We match the order to our network of vetted highland farms across the most suitable growing zones.
Season Managed
Our agronomists manage every farm through the season — inputs, irrigation, pest control, harvest scheduling.
Harvest & Pack
Produce collected, graded, packed, and certified at our network of pack-houses within 24 hours of harvest.
Delivered to You
Cold chain delivery to your warehouse, port, or airport handling agent — on schedule, every time.
Why Choose This
The Advantages for Buyers
Whether you're a supermarket chain, a food processor, or an export trading company — contract farming through Highland Brands gives you a structural edge over open-market sourcing.
Steady, Predictable Supply
Pre-committed growing programmes mean your supply chain is never at the mercy of spot market availability. Volume and schedule agreed before planting.
Lower Total Cost
End-to-end management — from seed to shelf — eliminates the cost of multiple intermediaries. Our scale drives per-unit costs 20–35% below open-market equivalents.
Certified Quality Assurance
Every contracted farm operates to GlobalG.A.P standards. Residue testing, traceability documentation, and audit trails are included in the programme fee.
Sourcing Transparency
The Kilimo Platform gives buyers live visibility of every farm supplying them — GPS coordinates, crop health scores, harvest timelines, and logistics status.
Risk Managed for You
Crop insurance, multi-farm network diversification, and agronomic support mean crop failures don't translate to supply failures for buyers.
Sustainability Credentials
All Highland Brands contracted farms operate under our sustainability framework — giving buyers ESG-verified sourcing documentation for their own reporting.
Visual Comparison
Traditional vs. Contract Farming
Open Market Sourcing
Highland Brands Contract Farming
For Farmers Too
What Farmers Get
Sustainable supply chains only work when farmers win too. Here's what every contracted farmer receives.
Guaranteed Market
Know your buyer and price before you plant. Zero market risk.
Inputs on Credit
Certified seeds, fertiliser and crop protection on credit, repaid from harvest.
Weekly Agronomy
Dedicated field officer visits every farm weekly — expert advice on demand.
Mobile Payments
Direct payment to your mobile money account within 7 days of delivery.
Platform Access
Free Kilimo app subscription for all contracted farmers.
Crop Insurance
Season crop insurance included in the contract farming programme.
Financial Planning Tool
Calculate Your Returns
Use live Kilimo Platform data to estimate production costs and gross returns before you commit to a contract.
Interactive Tool
Contract Farm Calculator
Estimate your production costs and potential earnings per acre. All figures use current market pricing from the Kilimo Platform.
Premium export variety, high demand in Europe year-round.
Selected Crop
French Beans
Harvest window: ~10 weeks
KES 65/kg
Market Price
2,800 kg
Expected Yield
2,800 kg
Per Acre
Cost Breakdown
Projected Returns
114.1%
ROI
KES 34.6
Profit/kg
10wk
Season
* Figures are illustrative estimates based on current Kilimo Platform market data and network average yields. Actual results vary by location, season, and management. Speak to our team for a farm-specific projection.
Get a Free Farm AnalysisCommon Questions
FAQ
Contract farming is a pre-harvest agreement between a buyer (Highland Brands or its clients) and a farmer, where the buyer commits to purchasing a defined volume of produce at an agreed price before planting begins. The farmer receives inputs on credit, agronomic support, and a guaranteed market. The buyer gets reliable, certified supply without owning land.
Get Started
Enrol or Send an Enquiry
Whether you want to buy contracted produce or grow under contract — fill in the form and our team will be in touch within 2 business days.