Mkulima Wa Nyeri: “Future Billionaires will be Farmers”

Mkulima wa Nyeri farm is a department under OxfarmAg ltd founded to provide the seedlings, learning experiences and fresh fruits for eating. The farm was founded by Dickson Kahuro Wambugu (Mkulima wa Nyeri) after graduating from Moi University in 2015 where he studied Agricultural Economics and Resource Management.  With a passion for farming he started by growing grafted tree tomato and pepper to get exposure as to what agricultural venture practically tastes like.

It’s through this exposure that he got the idea of supplying seedlings after getting many farmers in need of information with huge demand of quality certified seedlings.

Youth And Agriculture

Many Kenyan youth just like Mkulima wa Nyeri find themselves in a dare situation after graduation, with few prospects of formal employment. But even though agriculture has been a mainstay of Kenya’s economy for as long as the country has existed, unlike Mkulima Wa Nyeri, very few youths consider turning to agriculture as a source of livelihood.

The key challenge, therefore, is how to get our youth into an industry as old as civilization itself, a sector so critical that recently President Uhuru Kenyatta pronounced agriculture and food security as one of the four pillars of his platform to continuing Kenya’s emergence as a middle-income country.

The solution to this challenge lies in our appreciation of a few salient facts. Most notable is that over 60 per cent of Kenya’s estimated population of 48 million are below the age of 30. Of this considerable cohort, an overwhelming majority are either unemployed or underemployed, and this despite being well-educated.

Quite a few, perceived or real, discourage the youth from getting involved in farming. The main challenges among many is capital and market access restrictions.

Given that agriculture is a devolved function, it is obvious that while the central government can only do so much to make agriculture attractive to and viable for the youth, counties have a major role to play. Nyeri County Under H.E Gov, Mutahi Kahiga is not left behind and it has been at the forefront in promoting the youth in agriculture and farming in General.

In a highly contested competition in farming organized by Ministry of Agriculture at National Level, under the youth category, Mkulima Wa Nyeri emerged as winners in the entire county. Mkulima wa Nyeri farm in Tetu Nyeri was named as the best managed Farm under youth Category.

According to Mkulima Wa Nyeri, every young person aspires to see themselves break even and turn into millionaires one day. However, the millionaire status is one that often proves too elusive to many. Otherwise, it is possible for anyone to invest, work smart and turn their ventures into a money mill.

Adding Value to Agriculture Through Grafting

Mkulima Wa Nyeri a trained Agronomist, after planting ungrafted tree-tomato felt the heat after all his crops under one acre were damaged by nematodes. He later decided to try the grafted variety after deliberating with some few local farmers who had been doing it but under small scale basis. After intensive research, Mkulima Wa Nyeri realized that when tree tomato was grafted with Muthakwa (bug weed), it does very well as Muthakwa is resistant to many problems that affect Tree-Tomato as shown in the table below.

Cost and Returns Of Grafted Tree Tomato Under Mkulima Wa Nyeri

With a good spacing one acre can accommodate 1500 plants

Cost per plant 450,000/1500=ksh 300/plant

Expected Returns From An Acre Grafted Tree Tomato

For a well-managed grafted tree tomato, it can produce 25-40 kg of fruits per plant per year. It can produce the fruits throughout the year and it has a life span of more than six years. The grafted red Oratia tree tomato variety matures in 8 months to one year after transplanting depending on area.

Return from the first year of harvesting.

Average expected return from a tree 3500000/1500= Ksh 2300 during the first year of harvesting.

NOTE:

Due to its ability to be resistant to most soil pest and diseases grafted tree tomato trees has a lifespan of more than 5 years. The profits above are from the first year of harvesting. Full productivity starts from the second year. With good management tree tomato fruits can produce fruits throughout the year ensuring stable consistent monthly income for 5 years. Tree tomato is normally harvested after every 2 weeks.

The cost of farming tree tomato may vary from individual because of variables resources like manure, labor and water. It’s always advisable to plant during the rainy season in case there is limited irrigation water. Plants also require a lot of water during fruiting. An acre can accommodate 1500 plants at a standard spacing of 5ft by 5ft.

Tree tomato farming requires intensive management due to continuous splaying against pest and diseases, irrigation, and feeding.

Oxfarm Partnership with Tamarillo Farm Kenya Ltd

We have partnered with a value adding company Tamarillo Farm Kenya Ltd. We are in need of huge supply of tree tomato fruits every week which can only be sustained by serious farmers under contract agreement. We have products like Tamarillo Juice, Tamarillo Jam, Chili etc. which have got huge market demand.

If you have large quantity of fruits, kindly contact us.

FOR CERTIFIED QUALITY SEEDLINGS CONTACT US ON

0706 222 888 / 0723 662 773

 

External Services Offered By Mkulima Wa Nyeri

Mkulima Wa Nyeri farm under the company OxfarmAg Ltd, offers different services to help young people and established farmers accomplish their goals. OxfarmAg Limited an agricultural company and Mkulima Wa Nyeri assist farmers in many ways. They have introduced several Packages under different tree fruits where they embark on planting and monitoring the farm for the farmers. For example, you can have your tree-tomato farm established at the comfort of your office. All what you need to have is a shamba, manure and money to fund the project; Oxfarm will do the rest.

The package entails;

• Farm visit to conduct feasibility study
• Soil testing and interpretation
• Digging of holes
• Manure application and mixing
• Planting
• Monitoring for three months
• Marketing

At Mkulima Wa Nyeri Farm in Nyeri, you can learn different things at a small fee; you will be trained on;

• Seedbed and nursery management
• Hass Avocado Propagation
• Organic Farming
• Tree-tomato Propagation
• Tree-tomato caring and management
• Farm management
• Book keeping in the Farm, e.t.c

Make every rain drop count, plant a tree-fruit today and help us conserve the environment, earn a living as well as feed the nation. Most farmers have booked their seedlings and so should you. Let nothing come between you and farming if you are the one! Farming only requires passion and a dream, a dream that out of farming you can actually earn a living and become a millionaire, as Dickson (Mkulima Wa Nyeri) keep on Saying “future billionaires will be farmers”.

Contact Mkulima wa Nyeri on 0723 662 773

FOR FIELD VISITATION, CONSULTATION AND SEEDLINGS

About Post Author

OxfarmAg

kahurodickson@gmail.com

http://www.oxfarmorganic.com/

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