What farmers are doing to reap big rewards during Christmas

Kimalel Chief Andrew Rumenya, 55, feds some of his goats in Koriema, Baringo South sub-county, Baringo County. He expects to cash big during this festive season when the demand for the goat's meat is high. PHOTO | STANLEY KIMUGE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Charles Njoroge, a dairy farmer in Mukurweini, Nyeri County, says Christmas has opened new opportunities for him.
  • John Rioba, a traditional vegetables farmer in Nakuru who grows spider plant, amaranth and cow peas (kunde), says market is last thing he is worried about this season.
  • As Christmas fast approaches, Nickly Kipkorir, a farmer from Bomet County, says he is offering irresistible prices and he will reward loyal customers.

At a spot in Wakulima market in Nakuru, a man labours with a 150kg sack of potatoes on his shoulder that he delivers to a trader.

He dusts himself off and goes back for another sack of potatoes for the same trader and then moves to the next one.

A few metres away, another trader unpacks onions and tomatoes from two different sacks and arranges them on her stall.

Similar scenes are replicated across the market that is busy as Christmas festivities approach.

Demand for fresh produce has gone up and so are prices as traders do brisk business in various markets across the country.

A kilo of tomatoes, for instance, is currently being sold at an average of Sh80, up from Sh60. Similarly, the cost of cabbages has risen from Sh40 to Sh60 per head.

BRISK BUSINESS

However, while the traders are doing brisk business as people prepare for festivities, the big question is, are farmers too enjoying the boom?

A good number of farmers Seeds of Gold spoke with this week have laid down strategies to ensure they sell more at good prices.

Kugo Tesot, a potato farmer in Nakuru, says he started planning for the Christmas boom in July.

The farmer invested Sh30,000 growing sangi potatoes on three acres.

When Seeds of Gold visited him on Monday, by 1pm, the farmer had already attended to four clients, all who had purchased an average of 200kg of the produce.

He is selling the potatoes in 18kg tins at Sh300 each, Sh100 higher.

“I no longer sell my produce in extended 200kg sacks (dusra). The 18kg tins guarantee me more money.”

For many months, the farmer has been selling the produce to middlemen from Mombasa who would visit his farm and buy in 200kg sacks at Sh1,300 and ferry to the town.

“At first I was comfortable with the arrangement but I came to realise that I was making losses,” says the farmer who is now selling the produce directly to market traders and consumers, cutting off middlemen.

In the last two weeks, Tesot has harvested two acres of potatoes and made about Sh100,000.

“I will be harvesting the rest of the produce next week and sell at even a higher price from December 22.”

Most of the customers who have visited his farm are referred to by other buyers and neighbours.

Charles Njoroge, a dairy farmer in Mukurweini, Nyeri County, says Christmas has opened new opportunities for him.

Njoroge keeps 15 Friesian cows, six of which are lactating and they produce 150 litres of milk every day. However, after selling raw milk for some time, over a month ago Njoroge started to process yoghurt to cash in on growing market, particularly this season.

SELL TO BROKERS

“There is a lot of fresh milk in the market currently. I turned to yoghurt so that I can stay ahead of other farmers. I convert 100 litres of the milk into different flavours of yoghurt and supply the rest to hotels in Nyeri at Sh40 a litre.”

He packages the yoghurt in three different sizes. A quarter litre is selling at Sh40, half-litre Sh70 and a litre at Sh130.

He expects his sales to increase by 30 per cent during Christmas and New Year.

John Rioba, a traditional vegetables farmer in Nakuru who grows spider plant, amaranth and cow peas (kunde), says market is last thing he is worried about this season.

Rioba recently went hunting for new market at supermarkets in the town and clinched deals with three outlets where he sells vegetables worth Sh2,500 a day.

Besides the supermarket, the farmer sells the produce himself at a spot in Section 58 along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway.

NO NEED FOR BROKERS

“As a farmer I believe I do not need to sell my produce to brokers. To make good profits, you either sell your produce yourself or cut the chain by selling to one person who will pass it to the consumer,” says Rioba, who farms the vegetables on three acres.

Until three weeks ago, Rioba made an average of Sh10,000 every Sunday when demand is high and Sh1,500 on the other days.

But his fortunes are changing with the onset of the festive season, with one supermarket keen on increasing his supply.

Vincent Sayo, 36, a broiler farmer in Nairobi, says he has advertised his produce in Utawala ahead of Christmas.

“My 200 birds have matured. I have put notices with my phone number in places people can easily access. Already I have received orders for the chickens and sold some at Sh450 each,” says the farmer, who is also selling the broilers on social media.

Kabarnet goat farmer Andrew Rumenya says he will be delivering his produce directly to consumers.

“I always do it every Christmas, Easter and New Year. Once someone orders, I slaughter and deliver to their homes,” says the farmer who keeps tens of goats for meat and milk and has a hotel through which he sells the animals, with 5kg to 10kg meat going from Sh2,000 to Sh4,000 this season.

As Christmas fast approaches, Nickly Kipkorir, a farmer from Bomet County, says he is offering irresistible prices and he will reward loyal customers.

STRONG NETWORK

Despite the high demand for poultry products, Kipkorir is selling kienyeji hens at Sh700 and cocks at Sh1,000, 10 per cent lower than his competitors.

“My strategy is to provide discount so that I can reach as many people as possible. It’s time to show gratitude to loyal customers for buying my products,” he explains.

“I will give a bunch of coriander for free to those who buy my chickens and rabbits.”

Kipkorir has established a strong network of customers that he will rely on this festive season. “I have loyal customers who often refer their friends to my farm. Social media platforms have been also very helpful.”

He sells a kilo of carrots and beetroots at Sh100 and rabbits at Sh2,000 each but he does expect demand for the animals to go up since most people prefer chickens.

Isaiah Omondi, a rabbit farmer in Siaya County will slaughter and deliver the animals at peoples’ doorsteps this Christmas.

The farmer says he will also share his market with his colleagues if he cannot satisfy his customers.

He has booked 40 rabbits from fellow farmers that he will sell at Sh1,200 each, making a profit of Sh300.

Experts note that Christmas is time for farmers to make money as many people are ready to spend.

However, Samuel Ndung’u, an agribusiness adviser at Kenya Organic Agriculture Network, notes the peak season will favour only farmers who had planned well for their produce to be ready around this time.

“You have to see ahead; visualise your market. If your crops take four months to mature, then you have to plant in August for the produce to be ready by around Christmas. If you miss by a week, you may make losses.”

He advises that farmers should start by carrying out market survey to know where their produce is on high demand and fetches more money.

“Instead of depending on middlemen who are likely to exploit you, approach potential buyers like hotels, market traders or supermarkets or even for the better, sell your produce yourself from car boot or go door to door. You can also employ a marketer.”

He adds that farmers have to prove their reliability by delivering produce on time and meeting quality standards as agreed with clients.

“You have to consider your target clientele before setting prices,” says Ndung’u, adding, “People in high-income areas will buy at higher prices than those in low-end places.”

Specific places, he adds have particular demands. For example, turkey is likely to sell in high-class urban areas as opposed to rural settings.

On the other hand, chickens will sell in middle-income estates most.

“Farmers should also embrace technology to market their produce. During holidays like Christmas, people spend most of their time at home. For the tech-savvy, chances are that they will be whiling away time on social media, so if you advertise your produce there, you may get good orders.”

FLEECE FARMERS

He adds that creating network between farmers also helps.

“A fellow farmer can tell you where the market is. For instance, he may be asked to supply 30 crates of eggs, if he can only raise 20, he will inform you so that you can supply the rest.”

However, he warns that farmers must be wary of conmen who may take advantage of the season to fleece them.

“Also remember that what works for another farmer may not work for you. Borrow what other farmers are doing to sell their produce but ensure it is suitable in your environment.”

Additional reporting by Stanley Kimuge, Faith Nyamai and Anita Chepkemoi