Tractor man returns home to sell cabbages

For the last five years, Joseph Rotich, popularly known as Mtalii has been growing cabbages in a one-acre farm near Lang Langa area in Gilgil. Prior to venturing into farming, he worked as a tractor operator in a local farm for over 15 years, but it did not help him much. Rotich says he left with nothing. However, he never regretted quitting employment as he is able to make good money through self-employment.

“There is no better job than farming. There is clean money which one can make in a short time if they work hard and remain focused,” he says as he walks through inspecting his one-acre farm.

The 59-year-old father of five has planted 12,000 pieces of cabbage in his farm which he hopes to start harvesting by October. If the season favours him he will sell as much as Sh70 per piece.

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The least he can offer if the season turns out unfavorable is Sh20 a piece, hence he could make between Sh240,000 and Sh840,000 in sales. He says his production cost would not exceed Sh50,000 if it all goes well.

“From this venture, I feed my family and educate my children, and still remain with enough to invest in other areas of interest,” he says with satisfaction.

Three of Rotich’s children have gone through college and the remaining two are in high school where he pays an annual fee of Sh80, 000.

He says cabbage farming has enabled him to buy two plots at a cost of Sh400,000 and Sh250,000 which he has also developed. He says he has built some few rental houses which earns him some decent income at the end of the month.

He is aiming at raising Sh400, 000 to buy another plot where he will build structures for his cows. He says he has over ten cows which he also bought from proceeds of sales from cabbages.

He says even after feeding the calves which must take the lion’s share of the milk, he is left with enough for domestic consumption and sale.

“Every month I get between Sh10,000 and Sh15,000 from milk. That is why I am saying one can never get it wrong in the shamba,” he says.

Rotich has the advantage of living near Morindat River hence does not rely entirely on rain-fed agriculture. During the dry period, he irrigates his farm using the water from the river, which gives him an advantage over those entirely relying on the rain.

This enables him to have thousands of cabbages in his farm during the dry months of January through March. He does not personally take his produce to the market as customers find him at his farm.

Rotich contends that those who say there is no money in agriculture are just day-dreaming. Most of them, he says are lazy and don’t want to work hard to make a decent living.

His message, he says goes to the young people especially those who wallow in hopelessness after they fail to get jobs after completing colleges and universities. That they should go to the shamba and do what they can.

“Even if you cultivate just a small strip, you stand a chance to make good money and improve your life. Whatever crop you chose to grow be it cabbages, kales, French beans or African nightshade,” he says.