Retired colonel trades guns for farm tools to enhance food security

After defending the country against any external attacks for several years, retired Colonel John Rioba has turned his energies to enhancing food security.

Seated along Nakuru Nairobi highway, Rioba is busy selling fresh local vegetables like saga (spider plant), managu (black night shade), cow peas, and amaranthus among other varieties.

“After the day’s activities, I drive to this centre where I relax and enjoy seeing people live peacefully as I earn some pennies selling them my vegetables,” he says.

The retired colonel produces the vegetables on his three-acre farm in Lanet, in the outskirts of Nakuru town and leases additional six acres in Njoro and Barina.

He informs Smart Harvest that he wanted something to keep him busy after his retirement and at the same time earn some pennies to sustain his family of three children after serving in the force for 30 years. Vegetable production was his preference.

The farmer developed interest in the venture after travelling to different countries and regions including Angola, Liberia, Siera Leon, Ivory Coast, France, Japan, China and Ethiopia, where he learnt best production practices from prosperous farmers and companies.

“Majority of Kenyans like meat but I learnt from numerous travels on my line of duty and nutritionists that green leafy vegetables is the best diet. I settled on vegetables because I wanted to see people eat and live healthy,” he narrates.

He ventured into the project in 2008, starting with only one acre parcel of land with intention of supplying to Lanet Military camp, a stone throw away from his farm.

After four weeks of planting, the demand for the produce was numerous, with local consumers, vendors and brokers flocking his farm. He was forced to increase the acreage to nine though he says market demand is still high compared to production capacity.

He owns three acres at Lanet and leases four others in Njoro and Barina at a cost of Sh7, 000 to meet growing market demand for the local vegetables.

After four weeks of planting, he was able to harvest managu, terere, cow-peas and saga that he supplies to individual consumers, retailers and local supermarkets.

“My first harvest was so encouraging, buyers used to book the crop before maturity. I was encouraged to put more effort to satisfy the high demand,” he adds.

Rioba harvests managu after six weeks of planting and enjoys continuous harvest for a period of four weeks before uprooting the crop. First yield of the crop is low, and the farmer harvests only 200 kilogrammes.

But the crop yield increases with every harvest where the farmer reaps 500 kilogrammes per acre and harvests continuously for four months. The crop is harvested once a week.

Rioba harvests approximately 12 sacks of managu on an acre parcel of land, selling each sack at Sh1, 600 to local supermarkets and individual consumers.

He also harvests 20 sacks of cowpeas from each acre selling each sack at between Sh2, 000 and Sh2, 500.

Harvesting of other vegetables including terere and saga is also done after six weeks of planting with each harvest earning him approximately Sh150, 000.

Each single day, he parts with approximately Sh5, 000 for each acre farm more so Sundays saying it is the peak day because most locals are at home.

After every harvest he uproots the crop, tills the land and practices crop rotation to kill pest and diseases that might have infested the soil, and also to improve soil structure.

For proper production of cow peas and saget, the farmer digs shallow trenches and spreads cow-dung and crop residue manure in the trenches.

The crop on the farm is planted in lines with spacing of 3 feet between the trenches for easier farm practices like weeding. Proper spacing, he adds, enhances even germination, prevents spread of diseases from one crop to another, less competition for light and easier harvesting.

However, Rioba plants harvested managu seeds in a seedbed for three weeks before transplanting to the farm, saying quality seeds is vital.

“Majority of farmers encounter losses because of using substandard seeds, a section are dried without following the right procedure, and packed only for germination to fail,” he tells Smart Harvest team busy harvesting managu ready for market.

Among proper production practices applied by the farmer include weed management, application of organic manure one week after planting and mulching to restore soil moisture.

“Vegetable has low cost of production because it takes only six weeks for farmers to reap unlike other crops that require regular weeding and application of fertilisers,” he observes.

According to the farmer, increased number of brokers is the main challenge facing farmers in the venture. He reveals that the brokers affect market prices.

While conducting market research, Rioba took his produce at a spot near the supermarket, along the highway, and on the first day sold vegetables worth Sh1, 000. He discovered that he was losing Sh400 a day to brokers.

“Demand of local vegetables is very high as compared to cabbages and kales, but brokers find their way by convincing farmers to sell them the produce and negotiate for low prices for their benefit,” he reveals.

Another challenge is lack of enough water with the current climate change related issues that has affected rain patterns and prolonged the dry spell.

Rioba employs three people on permanent basis with three casual labourers who closely monitor production of the vegetables and supply to the market.

The farmer also encourages majority of youths who lack employment to venture into agribusiness. This will also foster the government strategy in the fight against food insecurity.

Smart Harvest learns that despite earning enough to cater for the needs of his family, Rioba is planning to increase acreage to at least 15 to meet high market demand.

“If only people understood what agriculture is, they could embrace it in all seasons because with food production, there can never lack market. This has made me a happy retiree. Youths should take advantage of technology and improve production,” he observes.

He further advises farmers to conduct market research on any venture to avoid falling in traps of brokers.