• Sarah Wanjiru's farm has a variety that includes spinach, sukuma wiki and cauliflower
• Companies that buy vegetables from the farm include Kwik basket and Tawi fresh
Image: GILBERT KOECH
Sarah Wanjiru has been planting tree tomatoes and vegetables on her farm for the last five years in Nyandarua, South Kinangop.
In February, a serious frost destroyed more than 3,800 tomato trees. She was devastated.
“We had planted 3,800 tree tomato seedlings. The frost destroyed all the fruits, and we had invested a lot in terms of inputs,” Wanjiru said.
She said the frost was extreme as it did not only destroy her tree tomatoes but also other crops as she used to intercrop.
She said they have not given up, as they plan to plant more tree tomato seedlings.
On her seven-acre farm, there are all types of vegetables, such as spinach, sukuma wiki and cauliflower, among others.
Wanjiru said they initially planted vegetables for their own consumption but increased the farm under the crops due to the ever-increasing demand.
“We initially had a tree nursery and worked closely with the Community Forest Association. Over time, the CFA introduced us to the World Wide Fund for Nature,” she said.
Wanjiru said following the introduction, they have since received a number of trainings, a move that has helped to build their capacity.
“WWF trained us on leadership and governance, record keeping, value addition, soil management, cooperative formation, value chain management, soil fertility, agribusiness and business plan,” she said.
Wanjiru added that WWF organised a workshop between farmers and off-takers to link them with the right market for their produce and help them understand market demands.
Due to the ever-expanding market, Wanjiru has plans to plant another 1,500 tree tomatoes.
Wanjiru said they have since planted trees along the farm.
She said they also dry some of the products to preserve them.
Ronald Gathitu has been helping his wife on the farm.
He said the country has the capacity to produce its own fertilisers.
“We need to invest in training and technologies to produce our own fertilisers,” he said, adding that the country has a lot of resources that can be tapped.
Gathitu said the vegetables he grows on his farm fetch markets in Mombasa, Maasai Mara and Nairobi.
Some of the companies that buy vegetables from the farm include Kwik basket and Tawi fresh.
Gathitu said some of the customers collect the produce on a daily basis.
Once the vegetables have been harvested, they are cleaned to remove dust and other impurities.
“The demand is high. We have over the years ensured that our vegetables are of high quality, and that is why we are doing organic farming,” he said, adding that they have been on the market for years.
Gathitu said the training that they got over time has helped them increase their yields.
He decried that the impact of climate change has been a major setback.
Gathitu said consistency in supplying the products to the customer is crucial.
“We have also diversified. We have a variety of products on the farm.”
The farm employs four casuals.