In the bustling city of Kisumu, where many young individuals often find themselves torn between traditional office jobs and the booming ‘Bodaboda’ business, one young man chose a different path, steering towards the enriching world of agriculture.
Meet Derick Ochieng’, a 20-year-old visionary who, upon completing his Form Four education at Vispa Emmanuel High School in Rabuor, Kisumu, decided to plunge into the realm of agribusiness.
Ochieng’s story is a refreshing departure from the norm.
Instead of following the well-trodden path of seeking employment in offices or embracing the Bodaboda business, he followed his passion for farming, a love affair with the land that started even before he completed his formal education.
“I love farming; even when I was in school, I had a passion for agriculture. That’s why I decided to pursue farming after completing my studies,” says Ochieng’.
With unwavering determination and a thirst for knowledge, Ochieng’ wasted no time in pursuing his dreams.
He joined Magwar Ber Farm, located strategically on the outskirts of the Kisumu/Nairobi highway, just a stone’s throw away from the Rabuor business center.
Here, he became an integral part of the agricultural workforce, his aim being to refine and enhance his farming skills.
Magwar Ber Farm became the canvas upon which Ochieng’ painted his agricultural dreams. He embarked on a journey to transform traditional farming practices, breathing new life into crops that were once overlooked in the region.
Capsicum, kale, and spinach became his canvas, and he was determined to make these crops flourish despite prevailing doubts within the local farming community.
Ochieng’ explains that to get high-quality and attractive Capsicum , he first plants seeds in a nursery, which takes about three weeks to sprout.
After the Capsicum start growing in the nursery, he transfers them to a well-prepared field with either compost or Yara Winner or Nitrabor fertilizer applied a month earlier.
Ochieng’ adds that bell peppers take only three months to be ready for harvest, allowing the farmer to make a profit.
However, he admits that there are challenges farmers need to be cautious about, especially pests attacking the roots and branches of bell peppers in the field.
If not dealt with promptly through appropriate pest control measures, these pests can cause significant losses.
The same challenges apply to crops like kale and spinach, which many farmers in the area didn’t believe could do well.
He states that kale and spinach take only five days to sprout in a nursery and are ready for harvest between three weeks to a month.
“In the past, residents here used to buy kale and spinach from other places or travel to Kisumu to get these products. Since I started this farming, I have made it easier for them. Many come here to buy these products,” he reveals.
However, Ochieng’ admits that he sells Capsicum in bulk at the Jubilee market in the heart of Kisumu city.
He can harvest between 300 to 500 kilograms daily from his quarter-acre farm and sells them to traders at the Jubilee market for 100 Kenyan Shillings per kilogram.
According to Ochieng’, his ultimate dream is to own his farm in the future.
He advises young people in Kisumu to venture into agribusiness, saying, “Life is changing, and job opportunities in offices are decreasing. So, I advise my fellow youth from Kisumu and the entire Nyanza region to embrace agribusiness to keep up with the times.”
