This archive report was first published on 9 November 2019.
Heavy rains have been pouring misery on residents in Eldama Ravine, Baringo County, especially maize farmers. However, for Carol Taalam, the weather has been a blessing in disguise.
Carol, a 45-year-old ophthalmic clinical officer at the Nakuru Level Five Hospital, Annex branch, has been farming since 2014 out of passion. She has four greenhouses on her two-acre farm in Eldama Ravine, where she grows a variety of crops, including tomatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbages, black nightshade, and carrots.
Carol's love for tomatoes started after seeing her friend in Nakuru grow and sell them in the town. She decided to follow suit, but the climate in Eldama Ravine proved to be a challenge. To overcome this, she invested in greenhouses, which have been a game-changer for her farm.
With an initial investment of Sh500,000, Carol has been able to supply her tomatoes to three supermarkets in Nakuru. She harvests 300kg of tomatoes from each 30-by-10ft greenhouse every week and sells them for between Sh60 and Sh90 per kilo, depending on demand.
Carol's success in the agribusiness has inspired her to diversify into other crops. She harvests 600-1,000 kilos of broccoli at a go, depending on the size of the greenhouse, and sells it for between Sh100 and Sh120 per kilo. She also harvests 2,500 heads of cabbage from half-an-acre and supplies them to a local school at between Sh40 and Sh50 each.
Despite her busy schedule, Carol has managed to balance her work, private clinic, and farming. She spends most weekends on the farm and has employed two workers permanently to run it in her absence. Her husband, Alfred Rotich, is also a pillar behind her thriving agribusiness, regularly checking on the business on weekdays.
Carol's advice to young people, especially women, is to start farming by doing short-term crops after studying the market to minimize losses. She also emphasizes the importance of doing market surveys, soil tests, and employing professional agronomists for good guidance.
According to Lillian Jeptanui, a horticulture expert from Egerton University, new farmers should do a market survey before growing any crop. They should also familiarize themselves with the possible challenges along their agribusiness and seek professional help.
With a gross margin of Sh1.09 million and a net of Sh963,000, Carol's agribusiness is a testament to her hard work and dedication. As she continues to grow her business, she plans to venture into growing herbs such as mint and thyme, which she believes will be less intensive and have a good market.
