from manager to green house farming

Like any other young man in the rural
area, Joseph, found himself in Nairobi
looking for a job. Luckily he got a
clerical job in a clearing and
forwarding company in Nairobi based
at JKIA.

Within a period of time due to
his dedication, commitment and
passion of his work he was promoted to
operation manager. While in this
position he noticed some of his unique
clients who were starting as 'hustlers'
in the business of exporting fresh
vegetables and within a short period of
time they would be very successful!
That is when he realized that there
was money in farming!

He resigned from his position and
convince his wife, Julia, to relocate to
the rural area. The wife was adamant
and since Joseph had made the
decision he went to the village alone.

He maintained the family in Nairobi
paying paying rent in Nairobi for a
period of six months.
Joseph started with 250 seedlings of
cabbages which he was given by the
sister and the little savings he had
used to prepare the land. The
cabbages did so well that he planted
more in the second season of 700 and
the third season he had over 1,200
which even did better.

With this success of this farming, the
wife had already bought in to the idea
of joining and supporting his husband
in the village.
After a successful cabbages farming,
Joseph constructed a wooden green
house of 16m by 30m which is
currently in second season of potted
crop that include 500 tomatoes, 1000
capsicum (red, yellow and green) and
600 cabbages.

Joseph and the wife have made their
small plot of land their office where
the wife does the marketing while
Joseph concentrates technical
backstopping. From their farming they
are able to make between ksh 50,000 -
100,000 per month an amount that
Joseph never came across while
working in Nairobi.

While in the farm you would notice the
strong love and support the young
couple have for each other which has
been a good recipe for their success!

Joseph vision is to export his own
produce from his farm.
Joseph acknowledges the support from
the Ministry of Agriculture staff in
Kahuro Division (Murang'a County) for
the technical support and KARI for
testing his soil and giving him
recommendations.