This archive report was first published on 11 November 2019.
Eric Mumo's journey to becoming a successful farmer began in 2009, when he graduated from Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology with a First Class honors degree in statistics.
Despite receiving several job offers, Mumo chose to pursue his passion for commercial farming and set up his base in his arid village of Nzangathi in Kitui County with Sh. 150,000 of personal savings.
Today, his farm is worth Sh. 16 million in assets and employs 12 full-time workers, with Mumo being recognized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Ministry of Agriculture for his outstanding innovations in food security.
According to Mumo, his decision to diversify into tomatoes and water melons was the turning point for his business, as it allowed him to engage in drip irrigation and ensure a steady income throughout the year.
With a kilo of water melon selling for Sh. 32, Mumo was able to fetch an average of Sh. 48,000 per trip to Nairobi, and he could make several trips in one week.
Mumo's farm has created 12 direct jobs and many others indirectly, and he intends to turn his farm into a demonstration centre where farmers across the region can visit and learn from his simple yet effective farming techniques.
However, Mumo faces several challenges, including high interest rates on bank loans and a lack of skilled labor, which has forced him to invest heavily in training his workers.
