This archive report was first published on 26 October 2019.
Ngurunit, a small town on the Samburu-Marsabit counties boundary, has long been known for its pastoralist lifestyle. However, this has changed thanks to Nathan Lepatoye's innovative farming methods.
For generations, residents of Ngurunit have relied on meat, milk, and honey for sustenance. But Lepatoye, a resident of the area, decided to take a different path. He inherited his father's land and chose to pursue agriculture instead of pastoralism.
"I took the decision to try something different when I inherited my father's land. I did not want to spend the whole of my life in the sun grazing cows and goats and passing that down to my children," Lepatoye told Seeds of Gold in an interview published on October 26, 2019.
With the help of the German Cooperation and other donors, Lepatoye began growing watermelons. He used funds provided by the donor to harvest water from the seasonal rains, which he then used to irrigate his orchard.
Initially, the melons did not sell well, as few people had tasted anything like them before. Lepatoye would often sell a five-kilogramme fruit for as little as Sh20. However, he persevered and eventually managed to change the community's perception of fruits and vegetables.
Today, Lepatoye's one-acre farm is a lush paradise, producing a variety of fruits and vegetables, including sukuma wiki, tomatoes, paw paw, passion fruits, bananas, and guava. He also keeps cattle, goats, sheep, and poultry on the farm.
Lepatoye's efforts have not only provided his family with nutritious food but have also inspired many young people to take up fruit and vegetable farming. He has also adopted a unique concept of natural regeneration of trees to keep his homestead green, supported by the NGO World Vision.
