This archive report was first published on 12 December 2019.
Uasin Gishu County is home to Dr Rael Taiy, a 52-year-old agricultural expert who has dedicated her life to dispelling the notion that farming is only for those without jobs.
With a doctorate in agricultural and rural innovation studies, Dr Taiy has used her expertise to develop her 10-acre farm, which has become a model for other farmers to learn from.
Her farm is a testament to the benefits of mixed farming, where she grows a variety of crops including cabbages, indigenous vegetables, carrots, chilli, beans, plantains, sweet potatoes, and fruits such as passion and avocados.
Dr Taiy also keeps chickens, dairy goats, and cattle, and has developed a thriving business selling day-old chicks, which she buys at Sh50 and sells at between Sh100 and Sh250 after two weeks and two months respectively.
She sells up to 200 chicks in a month, and her dairy venture is another important income earner, with four of her seven Friesian cows producing an average of 15 litres a day each.
Dr Taiy's farm is a shining example of what can be achieved with passion and the right approach, and she advises young professionals to venture into farming, which she believes can be a meaningful income earner.
