Originally from Gujarat state of India,Jay Dave’s connection to Kenya began with his parents who lived and worked inthe east African country from the late 1970s until 1982. A decade later, he and his wife, Nisha, both engineers, relocated to Kenya to understudy his uncle’s hospitality business. Years after working at the restaurant, the couple had the opportunity to work for a large company that produced and exported flowers all over the world. “We used to harvest almost a million flower stems per day around Valentine’s Day,” he says.
Jayand Nisha pivoted once more by joining one of the largest companies specializing in greenhouses and irrigation technology in Kenya. They acquired skills and experience in using these technologies and consulted with many small- and medium-scale farmers. “We advised on new and innovative ideas and techniques for making farming sustainable,” he says. Their technical knowledge helped to increase productivity, improve yield, and minimize the effects of diseases and pests.
The couple and their growing family lived a fast-paced, even if fulfilling life in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital and its Green City in the Sun. Its lively arts and culture scene, dense rainforests,southward sloping savannah grasslands, and multitude of rivers and streams made for picturesque journeys and communing with people who radiated the warmth of the sun. “For leisure we visited many different national parks for safari. We used to have many social get-togethers organized by different communities in Nairobi,”he says. The family began to seek a new beginning that offered a more relaxed pace of life and other opportunities for growth. Canada ranked high as apotential next destination. After a visit to Prince Edward Island in 2018, Jaywas taken by the open space, friendly people, and natural landscape. The family arrived in August 2023 and has relished the opportunity to deepen their bond.“ Our life before migrating to Canada was busy and it was challenging to findtime for each other. In Nairobi, I could easily spend two hours in traffic,”Jay says.
Drawing on their extensive experience in agriculture, Jay and Nisha set up Devi Greens, which provides tools and supplies for growing plants all year round. Devi Greens in Summerside offers seeds, plants, supplies and services for greenhouses, garden tools, and other products to support new and experienced gardeners and farmers alike. “ We want to help people succeed in their planting projects in every season whether they have a little or a lot of experience. We provide solutions to make our communities self-sufficient in food production no matter the season,” he says. The couple plan to grow the business to support diverse people across the agricultural landscape in PEI, from backyard gardeners tolarge-scale crop growers.
“Our expertise is in irrigation and greenhouse designs, but we are currently adapting our skills to the needs here. In addition to spreading word about the benefits of these technologies, we look forward to designing our own backyard gardening kit in the future,” he says.
They credit PEI Connectors with providing valuable networking opportunities and insightful sessions that have equipped them with the knowledge and tools to improve their marketing, hiring strategies, and build connections with diverse people and organizations.
Written by: Elizabeth Iwunwa
Photography: Mostafa Alizadegan
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