By Correspondent
Kilifi County Government through the Department of Agriculture and Crops has encouraged farmers to venture into agribusiness as a way to generate income and better their living standards.
Speaking during farmers’ field day in Kaloleni, Kilifi Agriculture and Crops Chief Officer Teddy Yawa stated that the department want farmers to understand the opportunities that farming provides for one to earn a decent living.
“Farming can be both a direct and indirect source of income. Direct through selling of farm produce in the market and indirectly when the farm produce is used as raw products in industries that have other employees”, Yawa explained.
He also encouraged farmers to get into farmer groups, stating that when they farm as a group, they are able to produce more and in turn yield more profits when they sell their farm products.
The county government, Yawa added, has began supporting different farmer groups with water pumps which they use to pump water from nearby dams and water pans to irrigate their farms.
“Farmers must step away from using farming as just a means to provide food, and begin using farming as away to make money. Once a farmer adopts that mind-set, they will be motivated to put in more effort into their farming activities”, Yawa emphasised.
Daniel Kaingu a coconut and cassava farmer in Kaloleni said that delving into agribusiness greatly improved his financial wellbeing and pushed him to open other business in various counties.
“I used to sell coconuts in Tanzania, the business grew and I later opened another office in Machakos where I sell our local products like coconuts, brooms and windowing trays. I’m now getting into cassava farming where I currently have already cultivated 2 acres”, Kaingu said.
He added that he is targeting to cultivate 10 acres of land where he has estimated a profit of Kshs. 240,000 to 280,000 per acre from the sale of both cassava seedlings and plants.
Khassim Nyundo a moringa business farmer stated that the sale of moringa products has helped him to facilitate his wife and son to pursue their undergraduate and diploma studies at Pwani University.
“I am able to cater for my family’s needs without having to ask for help. My monthly earnings range between 70,000 to 100,000 Kenyan shillings and that is on a small-scale production rate”, Nyundo explained.
