KENYA · GUIDE 0007 · EDITION 4.2
Find Coriander Buyers in Kenya: Test Dhania Demand
Choose a real buying occasion
Dhania can be a small but frequently purchased ingredient. A food kiosk preparing meals daily may need a different pack from a caterer buying for an event. Before sowing for sale, speak to nearby prospective buyers about the day and approximate quantity they would actually consider ordering. Treat a stated interest as a lead, not a sale. Ask when they usually buy, how they currently obtain herbs and what makes them reject a delivery.
Decide what a bunch means
Ask each kitchen whether it uses leaves cut from stems, prefers a whole plant with roots, or buys by weight. Show a sample and agree on a practical unit. For a bunch, record whether roots are included, how the stems are trimmed and whether the buyer cares about approximate weight. For a measured pack, agree on the weighing method and whether packaging is included in the quoted amount. Avoid assuming that a bunch from two sellers contains the same quantity.
Test the delivery, not just the harvest
Offer a small sample for one agreed delivery day. Record the harvest time, packing arrangement, travel time and handover time. Ask the buyer to open the package after the actual journey and examine aroma, crushed stems and leaf condition. Make it clear that this is a sample; do not present a test as proof of a standing contract. Record whether the buyer would order again and, separately, whether a paid repeat order arrives.
Compare buyers on the route
A buyer who takes many bunches at one stop may cost less to serve than several buyers requiring separate trips. For each prospect note their location, expected order, payment timing, preferred contact and who can accept the goods. Compare estimated proceeds with packing, rejected bundles and travel costs. Do not expand production based only on the number of people approached.
Decision after the pilot
Continue a delivery format only if customers accept it and the route can cover its direct costs. If leaves arrive wilted, investigate harvest timing, handling and journey conditions before promising improved shelf life. FAO's general postharvest reference identifies coriander as a herb; it does not validate your route or provide a guarantee for your particular packing arrangement.