In the lush farmlands of Musonga, Siaya County, Timothy Simiyu, a former Primary school teacher, turned his three-hectare maize farm into a thriving groundnut plantation, reaping bountiful rewards and inspiring others in the agricultural community.
Timothy’s journey into groundnut farming began in 2001 when he sought alternative sources of income to supplement his teaching job.
He noticed the potential of groundnuts as a profitable and environmentally beneficial crop.
Unlike maize, which required intensive farming and often yielded inconsistent returns.
“Unlike maize, I was impressed by groundnuts which took three to four months to mature, and added nitrogen to the soil,” Simiyu said during a past interview.
With a sense of purpose and determination, Timothy converted his land to grow two groundnut varieties – Red Valencia and Manipinta.
He invested approximately Ksh 48,000 to till the land, purchase seedlings, and manage the farm until harvest.
Little did he know that this decision would mark the beginning of a successful agricultural venture that would change his life and impact the community positively.
Over the years, Timothy’s expertise and experience in groundnut farming have grown, leading to impressive yields.
The Manipinta variety yields up to 2.4 tonnes per hectare, while the Red Valencia produces up to 2.2 tonnes per hectare every season.
The demand for groundnuts in Kenya has steadily increased, making it a lucrative crop for farmers like Timothy.
An earlier survey by the Kenya Agricultural Commodity Exchange revealed that a 100kg bag of Red Oratia groundnuts commands a price of approximately Ksh 10,000.
Groundnut prices varied by region, with Kilimo Biashara quoting rates ranging from Ksh 7,500 to 13,000 per 100kg bag in Western, Eastern, and Coastal areas.
Considering these prices and Timothy’s impressive yield, his three hectares of groundnut crops generated approximately Ksh 450,000 per hectare each season. This translated to an astounding total income of about Ksh 1.35 million during a productive season.
But Timothy’s success goes beyond financial gains.
Groundnut farming has had a positive impact on the local community by creating additional job opportunities.
One such beneficiary is Eliakim Otieno, who saw an opportunity in groundnut processing.
He constructed a groundnut grinding machine that produces groundnut paste, a popular product in the region.
Having previously lived in Uganda for eight years, Eliakim gained insights into the use and benefits of peanut butter.
Upon returning to Kenya, he invested in the machine, which cost him about Ksh 55,000.
The machine, a blender-like contraption with a mortar and shaft, efficiently grinds groundnuts to produce various groundnut products, including paste, flour, and sauce.
Eliakim sources his groundnuts from farmers around Kakamega and, using his grinding machine, produces high-quality groundnut paste. A 200-gram jar of the paste sells for Ksh 50, while a kilogram goes for Ksh 250.
The nutritious and versatile paste become a staple in the local diet, garnering significant demand and providing Eliakim with a thriving business.
For Timothy, the journey was both challenging and rewarding.
After covering expenses like irrigation, worker wages, and other costs, he typically enjoys a net profit of around Ksh 1 million per season.
He wisely savesd a portion of this profit for future investments while allocating Ksh 350,000 to prepare the land and cover expenses for the following season.
Beyond the financial gains, Timothy took pride in the fact that his groundnut plantation contributes positively to the environment.
The crop’s ability to fix nitrogen in the soil reduced the need for synthetic fertilizers, thus promoting sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices.
