Nancy Wanjeri, a Nyeri-based farmer, has shared her frustrations after investing all her savings in potato farming.

Wanjeri had just quit her secretarial job to try her hand at farming after witnessing her sister earning big from carrot farming.

“I was inspired to venture into potato farming by my sister, who has been farming carrots for about 8 years. She made me believe farming is a goldmine based on how she made good money,” she narrated.

With the hopes of becoming successful just like her sister, Wanjeri decided to invest in potato farming, unaware of the impending frustrations.

She used part of her Sh200,000 savings to acquire seedlings and prepare the land, while the rest was used in the management of the crop.

“My father had given me an acre of land, so I didn’t have to lease land like most of the potato farmers in Nyeri,” she says.

Kenyan farmer raking fortune from Okra value addition, exporting to South Sudan

All was well until the second month, when a heavy downpour swept Nyeri farms, leading to waterlogging, diseases, and produce loss.

“Potatoes do not need excess water as it hinders root development, making them more susceptible to diseases like Fusarium wilt and bacterial wilt,” she says.

Wanjeri explains that if potato plants show wilting at or before flowering, only a few tubers will form, meaning reduced yield.

Too severe was the destruction that she harvested only four bags of potatoes from an acre of land, selling each at Sh3,200 farm gate price.

“I was expecting 80 bags but ended up harvesting 4. I felt discouraged because I had lost a lot of money in the venture,” Wanjeri recalled.

Wanjeri, now jobless, didn’t give up and decided to give the venture a second chance. But how would this be possible without money?

Having been a Co-op Bank customer for over 5 years, she decided to approach the lender for funding and managed to secure a Sh300,000 loan.

“Co-op Bank normally has agribusiness loans which cover various sectors like dairy, horticulture, cereals, and cotton farming. Under the horticulture product, Potato farmers can access a minimum of Sh100,000,” she explains.

The farmer attended a training, gaining knowledge on potato farming from planting to harvesting.

“I planted two bags of certified seeds on 2 acres of land and harvested 100 bags per acre. I sold the potatoes for Sh3,000 per bag and made Sh600,000. Later on in the same year, I planted clean potato seeds again on 3 acres of land and harvested 350 bags of potatoes which I sold for Sh3000 per bag and made Sh1,050,000.”

She clarified that she expanded her venture using the Co-op Bank horticulture loan and repaid on time to increase her limit.

“The Co-op horticulture solution supports fruit, vegetable, and flower value chain players by financing working capital and farm development. One is only required to have an account with Co-op Bank (new or existing), a duly completed loan application form, and a 12-month Bank Statement,” She explains.