For approving small loans to small
scale farmers, Jacob Wambua took
home more than Sh 100,000 every
month. Quite a comfortable amount to
survive on.
But Wambua learnt one lesson:
Focused farmers who invested in
agribusiness were minting money, far
more than he earned! He decided to
make a rare leap of faith and resigned
as a branch manager of a leading
SACCO.
He was emboldened by his wife’s faith
that they could make money. Today, Mr
and Mrs Wambua are successful
farmers, above average so to speak. At
their fertile 10 acre-Mua Hills, they
have over 400 orange trees, over 200
mango trees and over 50 avocados
plants.
They also have 25 tree tomatoes, sweet
passion trees, over 2,000 strawberries
plants (and a professionally prepared
strawberry seedlings nursery).
That’s not all. The farm has tens of
rabbits, indigenous chicken, 3 dairy
cattle and about 7 heifers.
Since their venture, the Wambuas have
no regrets. From their dairy cattle
alone, they earn around Sh 90,000 a
month. “We produce about 60 litres
every day and we sell it at Sh 50,” he
explains.
To maximize their production and
profits, the couple has invested in drip
irrigation and small scale
mechanization.
To put icing on the cake, they have
exploited opportunities presented by
Mkulima Young’s marketing arm,
Mkulima Young Soko. “I take pictures
of my products, upload them in te site
while still in the farm and calls start
coming almost immediately,” explains
Wambua
The couple’s focus and determination
has begun to be recognized. This year,
their farm won several awards in the
just concluded ASK show in Machakos.
His vision is to have a small cottage
industry that will be able to supply
fresh juice in Machakos County and its
environs. Hongera, the Wambuas!!!!
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