When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. That is the life mantra that one Jerios Wachira (pictured), a 24-year-old farmer lives by.
Though battling a crippling disease - Lordosis - that leaves her in constant pain, she runs a thriving farm christened Muthamaki (God) on a two-acre in Mangu, Nakuru County.
Lordosis, the curving inwards of the lower back, is untreatable.
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“I have an inward curvature in my waist and my spine is not straight. It is a painful condition but I refuse to be a beggar,” says the ambitious Wachira.
Hers is a story of resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
Not one to wait for handouts, when she completed her degree in Information Communication Technology from Mount Kenya University, she started looking for a job. That was six years ago.
“Despite sending several CVs, I was not getting called for job interviews.
“Instead of sitting idle, in 2017, I asked my father to allocate me a share of his land so that I can try my luck in farming,” she says.
And that is how her journey in farming started.
Choosing farming
But it was not a walk in the park. Friends, relatives and neighbours spoke ill of her for choosing farming instead of a white-collar job.
“I became the village laughing stock; some wondered why such a young woman with academic papers can decide to be a farmer.
“They told me farming is for the old and unschooled,” she recalls.
She made up her mind and started tomato farming in 2018 with her small savings and support from her father, Francis Wachira.
“I spent around Sh30,000 to buy the seedlings and other farm inputs,” she says.
With the support of her parents, four months on, she got her first harvest.
She harvested between six to eight crates per week, making between Sh20,000 and Sh28,000.
This went on for over three months.
Although tomato labour intensive, the young lady said that in 2018 and 2019, the market was also good but with Covid-19 pandemic, the future is looking bleak.
“I made Sh150,000 profit then but I know this year will be difficult because of the effects of coronavirus pandemic.”
Always strategic and looking out for the best, she shifted to farming beans this year because they require less work compared to tomatoes.
“Tomato have poor yields in cold weather. I decided to go with beans this year.”
E-agriculture
The beans will yield in the next two months and she hopes to do it quarterly in the next year.
She expects to harvest 24 bags and intends to sell each bag at between Sh6,000 and Sh8,000.
“I use my ICT skills to do research and get relevant information on the internet and that has assisted me improve, sustain and diversify my farm,” she says.
Additionally, she reads academic articles on modern and improved farming online.
“I also use E-agriculture where I communicate with farmers from all over the world.”
Rearing pigs
In the next five years, Wachira plans to start rearing pigs for an additional source of income.
Farming has been good to her and with proceeds from the farm, she has built a three roomed-house for her parents.
She has also bought a second hand pick-up truck for ferrying her produce to the market.
Since her health condition doesn’t allow her work efficiently, she has employed eight workers.
“I have four permanent workers and the others are casual who report to the farm when there is work,” she says.
For the youth complaining that there are no jobs, she has a word of advice: “We are a microwave generation and expect results overnight.
“However agriculture takes time and needs patience.
“Despite my condition, I earn a decent living. I no longer depend on my parents,” she says.
