In the serene landscapes of Sagana, Nyeri County, Nancy Wambui has carved out a niche for herself in the world of farming.
This 42-year-old agricultural enthusiast made a strategic shift from growing traditional horticultural crops to focusing on passion fruits and courgettes, a decision that has transformed her farming fortunes.
Wambui’s journey into passion fruits farming began in 2020 when she realized that her earlier ventures with vegetables, French beans, and snow peas were not as profitable as she had hoped.
Determined to find a more viable path, she transitioned to cultivating passion fruits, a decision that has proven to be a game-changer.
“I ventured into passion fruits farming in 2020. The crop has fewer challenges compared to the crops that I was growing initially,” says Wambui.
Initially, she sold her passion fruits at Sh70 per kilo, but as her harvests grew, so did her profits.
With a reliable customer who purchases her fruits weekly, Wambui now harvests over 200 kilograms per week and sells them at a higher rate of Sh120 per kilo.
Wambui, who cultivates the popular purple passion fruits, takes pride in her 500 well-tended plants, which yield consistent harvests.
She diligently attends agricultural field days to enhance her skills, especially in pest and disease control. With her husband’s support, Wambui efficiently manages her three-quarter-acre passion fruit farm.
Aside from passion fruits, Wambui has expanded her farming repertoire to include courgettes.
On her eighth-acre farm, she successfully grows these versatile vegetables, each batch taking 45 days to mature for harvest.
Despite occasional market fluctuations that can drive prices down, Wambui has found a loyal client base.
A reliable buyer purchases her courgettes at home for Sh40 per kilo, ensuring a steady income stream.
While her venture required a substantial initial investment of Sh270,000 for passion fruits and Sh10,000 for courgettes, the returns have justified her expenditure.
