First Class Graduate turns Sh150,000 into 16 million business

Eric Mumo is a young man who turned down a job offer to start a thriving farm. He grew up in an arid village in Kitui County, Kenya, and he knew that farming in this region was challenging. However, he was determined to succeed.

Mumo started with Sh150,000 of personal savings and bought a Friesian dairy cow. He soon added two more cows, and he started supplying fresh milk to local restaurants. In 2011, he decided to diversify his farm by starting to grow tomatoes and watermelons. He invested in drip irrigation to ensure that he could grow crops throughout the year. This was a turning point for his farm, and he soon started to see profits.

In 2013, Mumo diversified his farm even further by starting commercial poultry and fish farming. He also built a poultry incubator and 10 fish ponds. All of these units are now integrated, and they support each other to reduce production costs.

Mumo’s farm is now a thriving business. He employs 12 people full-time, and he has won several awards for his innovation and success. He is a role model for young people in Kenya, and he is proof that it is possible to build a successful business in agriculture.

Here are some of the challenges that Mumo faced while starting his farm:

• Getting a bank loan was difficult because the interest rates were high and there was no grace period.
• He faced a shortage of skilled labor, and he had to invest heavily in training his workers.
• He found that agriculture extension services were not sufficient.

Here are some of the lessons that Mumo has learned from his experience:

• It is important to have a clear vision and to be determined to succeed.
• It is important to diversify your farm to reduce your risk.
• It is important to invest in marketing and quality to ensure that your products are competitive.
• It is important to give back to the community by sharing your knowledge and experience with other farmers.

Mumo is an inspiration to young people in Kenya and around the world. He is proof that it is possible to build a successful business in agriculture, even in the face of challenges.

Here are some additional details about Mumo’s farm:

• Mumo’s farm is located in an arid region of Kenya, where rainfall is scarce. However, he has been able to successfully grow crops and raise livestock by using drip irrigation.
• Mumo’s farm is integrated, meaning that all of the units support each other. For example, the manure from the livestock is used to fertilize the crops, and the water from the fish ponds is used to irrigate the crops.
• Mumo’s farm is a model for sustainable agriculture. He uses organic farming methods and he recycles water and waste.
• Mumo is a passionate advocate for agriculture. He believes that agriculture is the key to solving many of the world’s problems, such as hunger and poverty. He is committed to sharing his knowledge and experience with other farmers, and he hopes to inspire others to start their own farms.

Mumo is a true inspiration. He is a young man who has achieved great success in agriculture, despite the challenges he has faced. He is a role model for young people everywhere, and he is proof that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.