Kitui County is one of the low-rainfall counties in Kenya, and commercial crop farming in the region is unsuitable, with many farmers opting for livestock farming.

Some farmers in the region have, however, ventured into farming drought-resistant crops, particularly tobacco, and making a kill out of it.

In Kilonzo Village, Kitui County, lies the 22-acre farm of Dennis Mwangangi who has joined the list of prominent Tobacco growers in the region.

Mwangangi ventured into tobacco farming in 2016. His first harvest was impressive, inspiring him to invest more in his farm. He harvested  3,100 kilos of the snuff and sold his produce in various towns in the Ukambani region.

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“A kilo of tobacco leaves produces 135 rolls after shredding. A roll fetches Sh10 in the market. We target retailers in small trading centers dotting Machakos and Makueni counties where homemade cigarettes are very popular because they are affordable,” Mwangangi told Nation.

Mwangangi, a Nairobi-based tour operator, has employed six workers on his farm who assist in the production of the snuff.

The workers shred the leaves methodically using machetes, marking the onset of the production of cigarettes, which ends with rolling the shredded leaves in used newspaper cuttings.

While many farmers have faith in the crop due to its drought tolerance, others lamented the high cost of inputs. Simon Makau, the chairman of Kitui Tobacco Growers Cooperative Society, said the crop has enabled farmers in the region to educate their children.

“Tobacco is our biggest cash crop in Kitui Central. No other crop comes closer in terms of value. Even at the height of drought, tobacco has enabled farmers to educate their children in this region,”  He said.

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The cultivation of tobacco starts with the establishment of a nursery, and the seedlings are transplanted towards the onset of short rains.

“We establish our nursery around August 24, guided by the onset of the short rainy season. Around the same time, the preparation of farmland through setting up bunds to enhance water retention starts.’’

“We transplant immediately the short rainy season starts. Three days after transplanting, we apply fertiliser on the crop,” said Gabriel Uhuru, who has grown tobacco for 40 years.

The leaves take two to three months to be ready for harvesting. Flue curing, where leaves are hung in curing barns and heated air is generated to dry the leaves, gives them their distinctive aroma. They stay three days in the barn, whose temperature is regulated.

A kilo of dried tobacco leaves fetches between Sh400 and Sh500 on average in open-air markets in Kitui County and half the price when sold through the cooperative society.