Kennedy Kitur is an Administration Police (AP) officer from Sachangwan in Molo, Nakuru County.
The security officer practices Soya beans farming on an half-acre piece of land that he owns in the fast-growing center.
In an interview with a local publication, Kitur noted that he shifted to Soya beans farming after ditching poultry which turned out not to be profitable.
Here is his story as told by WoK.
Kitur ventured into Soya beans farming after trying a hand in poultry farming but later realized that it was not profitable.
In an interview with Nation, he explained that he had bought 350 chicks, and he had hoped to collect at least 300 eggs per day.
However, the layers that he had so much hope on only gave him eggs for two months and not even interventions from veterinaries could save the situation.
Additionally, Kitur noted that the company that he sought the chicks from turned against him and even issued him with a warning.
“The brooding company only refunded me the Ksh 30,000 I had spent on chicks and warned me against spreading stories my fate as their clients,” he said.
Kitur later sought advise on what farming he would venture into, and after a visit to Egerton University’s horticultural department, he was advised to grow Soya beans.
After an intensive consultative meeting, he bought 10 kilograms of Soya beans seed from Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) at Ksh 1,500.
He also sought help of three students from Egerton University who spent three months on attachment tending to the crop.
“The students got a chance to practice what they learnt in school while they taught me about Soya farming,” Kitur explained.
By the time the crop had matured, Kitur was hoping to harvest 300 kilograms of soya beans which he would the sell at Ksh 150 per kilogram.
“Unlike maize where I have millers as the only potential clientele, I can sell my Soya beans to many categories of clients,” he said.
In Kenya, soybeans are grown in the highlands and mid-altitude regions, including the Rift Valley, Central, Eastern, and Western regions.
In terms of land preparation, the land should be cleared of any vegetation and debris. The soil should be plowed and harrowed to a fine tilth to ensure that the seedlings can emerge easily.
There are several Soya bean varieties which are adapted to different agro-ecological zones and have different characteristics.
They include Gazelle, SB 19, Pannar 522, TGx 1903-11F and TGx 1987-10F which is resistant to soybean rust and has good seed quality.
The market demand for soybeans in Kenya has been growing steadily, driven by the increasing demand for animal feed and cooking oil among others.
Kenya imports most of its soybean requirements, providing an opportunity for local farmers to tap into this market.
The local market for soybeans is also growing, with a rising demand for soy-based products.
