Plan B pays off: How teaching graduate built a thriving farm in Kisumu

Nyota beans plantation. (File, Standard) Briefly introduce yourself I am from Kisumu County, an agripreneur and a degree holder in Education Science with a passion for farming. I am also the founder of Lakeside Greenhouses Ltd and co-founder of Samaki Village Farm in Seme Sub-County, Kisumu. What inspired you to venture into African vegetables and shrubs? I grew up in a family where farming was our only source of income. My passion for agriculture developed at a young age. After completing my KCSE exam, I tried various odd jobs, most of which paid very little. I even worked as an untrained teacher in a secondary school, earning Sh4,000 per month. When the school got a TSC teacher, I was left jobless. Determined to follow my passion, I used my small savings to start farming-beginning with African nightshade (osuga). Although these vegetables were often associated with low-income households, I saw a high market demand, which motivated me even further. When did you start this venture, and how has the business journey been so far? We began in 2016, leasing farms in Ahero. Later, on April 18, 2018, I officially registered my farming business to focus on vegetables and fish farming. The journey has been rewarding, thanks to consistency and passion. In 2024, we secured supply tenders for schools and supermarkets across Kisumu County. How much do you earn from orders, excluding costs? On average, our orders range from Sh3,000 to Sh10,000, excluding expenses. What are the key factors for success in this venture? Farming requires a lot of patience. It took us two to three years before we started making reasonable profits. What are your expansion plans? We are currently scaling up in Seme by expanding our production from three acres to six acres to meet local market demand. This expansion will create more jobs for local women and youths whom we work with daily. Additionally, it will allow us to diversify value chains across the six-acre farm. Would you encourage young people to venture into farming? Absolutely! There is money in farming, but it requires discipline, consistency, and passion. Just like any other business, farming should be approached professionally to create decent jobs. I encourage young people to embrace innovation and find solutions to challenges in the agribusiness industry. What other work do you do? In addition to farming, I provide training and consultancy services. I also assist in designing and installing farm structures such as raised ponds, greenhouses, shade net houses, and drip irrigation systems. Besides food, how else are African vegetables and shrubs used? African leafy vegetables are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Because of these benefits, they are used in the manufacturing of medicines. Other uses include: Green energy production, weight loss management, hydration prevention and treatment of heart diseases among others. How has this venture impacted your personal life? This project has given me a stable job. I take pride in being self-employed, earning a decent income, and being able to support my family by paying bills and school fees for my siblings. Your final thoughts? I thank all our clients who have continuously supported our business and believed in our vision. I firmly believe that through collaboration, we can feed the nation and combat hunger across the world.

Plan B pays off: How teaching graduate built a thriving farm in Kisumu

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Plan B pays off: How teaching graduate built a thriving farm in Kisumu

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