Why I quit my lucrative job to venture into farming

Dennis Nyongesa Osebe in his poultry house located in Lwanya, Matayos Sub County and Busia County. (PHOTO: NANJINIA WAMUSWA/ STANDARD)

Early in the morning, Dennis Osebe chops nappier grass into small pieces as his farmhand looks on, ready to chip in where necessary.

After cutting, he embarks on feeding his dairy cows and goats. Mr Osebe then heads to another section housing poultry and starts preparing feeds for his chicken, turkeys and geese.

“This has become my daily routine for five years since l started this farming project. It is what l was used to at various places l worked,” says Mr Osebe.

He quit his lucrative job to fully concentrate in farming. Osebe’s last station before quitting his job was Busia where he worked in the Trade and Industry ministry as the national branch chairman for Measurement & Standards.

His farm is located in Lwanya, Matayos Sub County, Busia County. It has over 500 poultry-kienyeji (local) and hybrid, 35 turkeys, 50 guinea fowls, 45 geese, 200 broilers, 15 dairy goats, 10 dairy cows and four calves.

Osebe’s records show that he started in 2011 with three dairy cows, two dairy goats and 100 chicks - 50 each for layers and broilers. He also had two turkeys. Guinea fowl and geese were introduced two years later.

“I have been expanding this project since then, and still do. So far, the gains are good and encouraging,” he says. Osebe says he initially faced a challenge in caring for one-day-old chicks, which involved regulating two heaters even at night.

He says although he lost 30 of them, he pressed on. Today, he explains, managing the entire project is quite hectic, but he is now used to it.

“I started small, but have been learning and adjusting as the project grows,” Osebe says, adding that he has invested a lot in the project. He says he does over 90 per cent of the farming work, despite having a farmhand.

He injected over Sh1 million in the project, part of his savings most of which went into construction of structures such as the poultry house and sheds for dairy cows and goats.

The structure, with different sections, can accommodate 50 dairy cows, 5,000 chicken (broilers and layers), 100 turkeys and 1,000 geese and guinea fowls each.

Citing the latest project as major in his entire life, Osebe says he has been involved in farming since childhood, but has been interrupted time and again by studies and employment.

“In primary and secondary schools, agriculture was my favourite subject. It gave me the knowledge l used to keep rabbits, chicken and some vegetables such as tomatoes, onions and sukuma wiki at home. When l joined college and later employment, it became a challenge to fully concentrate on farming,” he told Smart Harvest.

But he did not abandon farming completely. Despite being transferred from one town to another, Osebe would ensure he has crops, chicken and dairy cows in the estates.

He says that in Garissa, he had over 100 goats and a local cow. He would have wished for more but had very little space. He moved to Kakamega and the presence of better space attracted Osebe who grew more vegetables and kept chicken and two dairy cows in the estate.

“Some people thought l was crazy, yet l was using my own milk, while they bought from shops. In fact, l supplied to other residents and would earn over Sh5,000 every month,” he recalls.

In Busia, Osebe had three dairy cows, over 100 chicken and vegetables in a quarter-acre farm.

He quit his job with all eyes fully focused on a major farming project. And, since he wanted to start afresh, he sold all the farming investment he had in Busia, worth Sh150,000.

But before he began, Osebe attended several seminars, consulted various agricultural extension officers in poultry, livestock and horticulture. He also read more about farming from the internet.

In his farming project, Osebe aims mainly to induct youths into agriculture in his area. He says active employment had kept him too busy and away from home.

But now he is back and does not just want to interact with youths, but do it on something beneficial to all.

“There are so many idle youth in this area. Poverty is also very high, yet they have not embraced agriculture - which is within their reach and being touted as maker of future millionaires,” Osebe says. He blames the area leadership for not encouraging youths into farming.

He jokes that he feels insecure being surrounded by hundreds of unemployed youths.

“They can easily turn on you and your wealth that you’ve sweated for many years,” Osebe says.

Tens of youths already frequent his project for mentorship in farming - livestock and crops. He reads a lot to acquaint himself with agricultural information.

“The two years l have been with them, they are very inquisitive on agribusiness. So, l must arm myself with information and provide it any time they ask,” he says.

He says youth seeking his advice, most of whom are boda boda operators, have interest in agribusiness. Their main challenge is how to get the start-up capital.

He says he will seek to partner with the Busia county government and other organisations to educate and help the youth get start-up kits in agribusiness.