The Global Entrepreneurship Summit curtains may have closed but the doors of entrepreneurship remain wide open. We must continue the entrepreneurship conversation to enhance existing enterprises and trigger new ones.
Before the curtains closed on the Summit, a Kenyan enterprise known as Illuminum Greenhouses put our country on the global entrepreneurial map by winning second place in the Global Innovation through Science and Technology competition. Their victory also clinched them $15,000 (Sh1.5 million). Their idea of building greenhouses with sensor technology has reminded us of the immense agricultural and economic potential of greenhouses.
A greenhouse is a building where plants are grown under controlled micro environment. Because this environment is controlled, it is not subject to the vagaries of weather. In essence, greenhouses provide a balanced diet for plants at all times, thus granting them an optimal environment to flourish.
Greenhouse construction is not rocket science and is even less demanding than construction of a house. The main materials used include steel, wood or aluminium frames, polycarbonate panels for the walls, greenhouse films, ground cover and shade clothes. Purchase of these material together with the irrigation infrastructure and technical labour will cost you anywhere from Sh100,000 to Sh1 million. Even better, advanced technology has enabled miniature greenhouses that cost about Sh40,000. For starters, a simple greenhouse should suffice.
An 8 by 15 metre greenhouse can produce at least two thousand kilos of tomatoes after two and a half months. Depending on the season, these can be sold for between Sh100,000 to Sh140,000. The returns are even more if vegetables like spinach and broccoli are part of the equation.
During his press conference a week ago, President Obama mentioned his government's Feed the Future initiative that seeks to enhance optimal agriculture. Kenyans should take full advantage of this initiative by tapping into it to construct greenhouses that actually feed the future through strong yields.
Local financial institutions like Chase Bank have also risen to the occasion and are now providing financial products that specifically aid greenhouse construction. These agri-business loans come with value added services in areas like agronomic training.
On the government side, institutions such as Kenya Agricultural Research Institute have a wealth of greenhouse information that adds immense value to greenhouse ventures.
Indeed, greenhouses are a proven source of green money. They are however not a silver bullet that will deliver instant riches. If you get the right information, the right greenhouse and employ the right techniques, your greenhouse will feed this country and earn you regular income. Give it a shot!
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join