Life is a journey of choices, and sometimes the path we take may not align with what others expect of us. Loise Marangu, a determined and resilient woman, faced such a crossroads, where she decided to forego three promising opportunities to follow her own dreams of farming.
Here is her story as told by WoK.
Choosing Education, Chasing Dreams
Loise Marangu took the first step towards her dreams by enrolling in a two-year program at Kagumo Teachers Training College in Nyeri County. After graduating with a diploma, she could have taken up a teaching position, but she chose to further her education.
Instead, the 22-year-old opted for a higher diploma course at Kenya Technical Training College (KTTC). This decision was driven by her thirst for knowledge and her belief that investing in education would eventually pay off.
“I was working for a monthly salary, but that was Equity’s dream, not mine. In life, you need to live your dream to its full achievement or you risk working to help others achieve their dreams,” she recalled.
Leaving the Comfort of Employment
After completing her studies at KTTC, he joined Equity Bank, where she worked for four years. While the job provided financial stability, she felt that her true calling was elsewhere.
Determined to chase her aspirations, Loise made a bold decision and chose to leave her job, embracing the uncertainty of entrepreneurship.
A Chance for Entrepreneurship
Opportunity knocked again when the government announced a youth competition, jointly sponsored with TechnoServe, a non-governmental organization. Loise was among the 7,000 youth who submitted business proposals, and her fish pond application caught the eyes of the judges.
As a result, she was sponsored to fly to the US for a month-long program, where she visited various farms and attended classes.
“I put in a fish pond application, which caught the eyes of the judges and I was sponsored to fly to the US for a month during which we visited various farms and attended classes. Upon my return I bought one cow, constructed fish ponds and unsuccessfully reared fish,” Loise Marangu shared.
From Setbacks to Success
Despite facing setbacks in fish farming, Loise refused to give up. She made a bold decision to leave her banking job and venture into dairy and watermelon farming on her in-laws’ farm. She initially leased a one acre piece of land from a local farmer and invested Ksh300,000 in a fruit farm.
With determination and hard work, her dairy cows rearing business thrived, meeting the growing demand for milk.
“Can you wear gumboots, can you stand dirt and broken nails coupled with a shaggy look? Farming requires a hard worker and has helped me reap good returns from my work,” she emphasized during the interview.
Learning and Growing
Her success in dairy farming was no accident. She invested time in learning about fodder production, milk management, and dairy cow care. This dedication to learning and improving her skills has been a critical factor in her success.
“I belong to a local dairy production group which also engages in watermelon farming. The group taught me how to utilize my manure. Nothing goes to waste at my three-quarter piece of land where I have my dairy enterprise,” she said.
Maximizing Resources and Embracing Innovation
At her Mbeere Farm in Rwiku area, Mbeere County, Loise manages her herd of 17 healthy heifers, thanks to the assistance of several fodder farmers and two attendants.
Waste is not in her vocabulary, as she cleverly utilizes cow manure to enrich her watermelon farming venture on a leased one-acre fruit farm.
Harvesting Success
Her journey from promising opportunities to success in dairy and watermelon farming is a testament to the power of perseverance and passion.
Today, she milks 110 liters daily, supplies 60 liters to an institution, and sells the rest at her milk bar in Embu town, earning about Ksh6,600 per day.
“I have vowed to do everything within my power to keep his legacy,” she says, speaking passionately of her late husband, who played a significant role in the design of her dairy business.
Her journey is a shining example of how a combination of hard work, a passion for learning, and a commitment to one’s dreams can lead to remarkable success.
