22yr old law gradute farm venture raking in ksh 23,000 from his one eigth acre

From a small plot of land, Nickly
Kipkorir is earning more than Sh
23,000 from 1/8 of an acre of a new
herb that is yet to hit Rift Valley farms.
Kipkorir is planting Stevia, a herb that
is processed to make organic sugar
commonly used in making
confectionaries.

What is motivating the recent
graduate of law from The Mt Kenya
University, is that he is no longer
feeling like he is tarmacking for a legal
job. He is already some money, not
from a largely recognizable crop, but
from a herb that takes three months to
mature.

In his mind, going by the prospects of
the herb he is expecting in a few years
to come, he might decide to kiss the
courtroom good bye and concentrate
on Stevia farming.

"I have two varieties, the Pure Cycle
and Londian Cycle. I have the latter
which yields more. I am expecting to
harvest 100 kilos very soon," says
Kipkorir. Each Kilo of the Londian Cycle
costs Sh 235 while the Pure Cycle
variety sells at Sh 135.

At 22, and still in college going age,
Kipkorir has turned a section of his
parent’s land into a money making
asset as he weighs down where the
academic wind will direct him.
"I am happy to do the herb. I am
looking for another one acre because
the crop is gaining popularity across
the counties. A firm in Kericho is
promoting it," he says.

A Mkulima Young member, Kipkorir
gets regular update on his crop and
has also used the platform to educate
other youthful farmers how to grow it.
"I interact with my peers and this
makes this venture very enjoyable," he
reveals.

He advises young people to strive and
do agribusiness instead of crying foul
that there are no jobs. "There is
money here but one should be
patient," he says.
Facts about Stevia
Stevia is a plant that is native to
South America. It is probably best
known as a source of natural
sweeteners. But the leaves are also
used to make medicine.

Stevia is used as a weight loss aid; for
treating diabetes, high blood pressure
and heartburn; for lowering uric acid
levels; for preventing pregnancy; and
for increasing the strength of the
muscle contractions that pump blood
from the heart