FARMING WAS MY CALLING When Monica Nyaga enrolled for a business management course in 2008, it was not so that she could be employed upon graduation. She wanted knowledge and skills to run a business. As part of the college work, Nyaga and her classmate were supposed to do a project. Coincidentally, she chose a project on farming. During her research, she made up her mind to become a farmer. Her research was on the financial chain of fresh produce export business in Kenya. “I wanted to prove that even though agriculture is the leading foreign exchange earner in Kenya, small farmers barely earned from their labour,” she says. Before she finished the project, the 28-year-old says she had identified a business she wanted do; contractual farming with an export company. In 2012, she started French beans farming on half an acre. “I was excited and I couldn’t wait to apply my skills practically,” she says. However, she found out the hard way that there was a big difference between theory and practice. “When EU started giving pesticide residue regulations, my French beans did not meet the threshold. I lost about Sh100, 000. My first business was a flop,” she says. However, the setback did not deter Nyaga. She went to her father for assistance. “He had a two acres of land in Athi River that he was leasing to farmers. I asked him if I could use the land and he agreed,” she says. With Sh30,000. She planted French beans again, but she failed again as her produce did not meet the export regulations. “I was devastated and almost started writing a CV to look for a job,” she says. However, Nyaga decided to try the local market. With a lesson learnt, she first studied the market to understand demands and expectations. She then approached a friend who had idle land in Zimmerman, Nairobi. Early this year, the friend agreed to let Nyaga do tomato farming. With Sh26, 000, a pump and pipes, she set out to give farming the third try. This time, she was lucky. She made about Sh160,000 from the two acres. She sells her tomatoes in Tala Market, Ruai and Zimmerman among others. Most of the time buyers come to her farm to pick the tomatoes so she incurs less transport costs. “I have harvested thrice since I planted the tomatoes. I am glad my persistence is finally paying off,” says the farmer. Nyaga says the local market is promising. She also says that she has learned a lot about farming and having a market and timing are important aspects. “I have also set standards for my crops such that I have a strict schedule on spraying programmes and fertiliser application,” she says. She says her tomatoes are always first grade. “I plant Riogrande variety and I am currently experimenting on Asila. I am also in the process of introducing bulb onions early next year, but I am still researching on the best variety for the type of soil and climate in my area,” she says. On whether she intends to go to any employment, Nyaga says farming is her calling. Nyaga has employed one farmhand and every month there are between three to five casuals who she hires for sowing, weeding and harvesting.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 08:32:50 +0000
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