This archive report was first published on 9 May 2020.
On a sunny day in Nyeri County, Samuel Muriithi is busy harvesting broccoli and cauliflower on his two-acre farm at the foot of Karima Hills in Ihwa village.
Clad in a green overcoat and black gumboots, Muriithi has been farming for six years, inspired by a neighbour who was growing the crops. He says broccoli and cauliflower don't take up much space and are not prone to diseases.
‘These two are my best vegetables. They are rarely farmed in the area and thus are in high demand,’ says Muriithi, who sells the vegetables to restaurants for between Sh80 and Sh130, depending on size.
However, finding a market was not easy, because few people consume these vegetables. Muriithi notes that unpredictable weather patterns are one of the biggest challenges to the crops, with rains causing diseases.
‘My plan is to increase the acreage under the crops and grow them at various times so that I can harvest all year round once the Covid-19 pandemic is over,’ says Muriithi.
John Wambugu, an agronomist at the Wambugu Farm Training Centre in Nyeri, says growing the vegetables requires a farmer to have a ready market because they are not consumed by many.
‘Farmers should also know the variety of the vegetables desired by the market and these include whether small or big heads,’ says Wambugu.
