Lilian Kiptoo, a farmer in Elgeyo Marakwet, has never been formally employed, but through agriculture, she can count millions of shillings from her pocket.
The farmer started farming on leased land as her family did not have enough land. She started with tomato farming on an acre of land not far from her home in Kessup in Keiyo North Sub County.
The fruits did not disappoint her as in her first harvest she managed to get Sh600,000 from the sale of the tomatoes in the nearby Iten market.
This motivated her to continue with the venture, which made her a millionaire years later. However, she realized she was facing many challenges in transporting her produce, which prompted her to purchase a pick-up with the proceeds from the tomatoes.
According to her, her next focus was on expanding her farm, thanks to the owner of the land she had leased, who offered to sell it to her family for Sh500,000.
“That year, I sold tomatoes worth Sh400,000, so we only added sh.100,000, and we bought this farm,’’ she said.
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She notes that one thing that has made agriculture viable in her region is the availability of natural water from the highlands, which helps in irrigation when it is dry.
While maize farming is the most popular agribusiness in the region, Kiptoo says she prefers doing horticulture due to its ready market. She has further diversified into traditional vegetables like managu and carrots.
While the venture has proved lucrative, Kiptoo admitted that growing the crops from land preparation to harvesting is not easy.
She notes that preparation and planting are laborious and capital-intensive. As a result, many farmers in her region have quit farming for other ventures.
“In fact, I was forced to take over two other farms from my neighbours who gave up. Since we started land preparation, I have had to hire casuals, whom I pay sh.300 each per day. This is exclusive of their lunch, which I have to prepare,” she says.
“For instance, when we are harvesting, I hire 12 people per day. I, therefore, need to have sh.3,600 every day because if I don’t give them their dues, they will not come back tomorrow,” added Kiptoo.
The Department of Agriculture recognized her efforts and empowered her with constant training to improve in agriculture.
She encouraged more people to invest in agriculture to create employment while ensuring food security.
She says that while funding is necessary, passion is everything, as it drives one despite the challenges. Kiptoo further encouraged farmers to start small and excise patience to break through.
