Peter Kimani, a farmer based in Kiambu County, entered the world of agriculture following a training program in Israel that equipped 101 Kenyan students with smart agriculture skills. Sponsored by the Kenyan government in 2016, the 11-month practical training course in Israel involved fresh graduates from various higher learning institutions.
Kimani reflected on the training, stating, “We would attend classes only on Mondays, and the remaining days were spent in the fields with experts who provided hands-on training in the entire crop production process, from planting to harvesting.”
He added, “During our time in the field, we were compensated with 30 shekels (approximately Sh900) per hour, working 10 hours a day.”
Upon his return to Kenya, Kimani had amassed savings amounting to Sh500,000, which he utilized to launch his agricultural venture. Teaming up with a friend, they erected two 8x30m greenhouses and a net house for cultivating tomatoes and cucumbers.
Opting for the high-yielding Tylka F1 tomato variety and Super Marketer cucumber variety on their Thika farm, Kimani disclosed that each of his 1,400 tomato plants yields approximately Sh1,500. The 1,000 cucumber trees, on the other hand, produce 14-17kg per plant, fetching a price ranging from Sh45 to Sh60 per kilo.
Both crops require three months to reach maturity, and in the initial season, Kimani reported a gross income of approximately Sh1.7m from tomatoes and Sh750,000 from cucumbers.
Kimani highlighted their diversification, stating, “We have expanded our production, and in our fourth season, we have ventured into growing vegetables such as kale and other leafy greens.”
In addition to their farming activities, the duo serves as horticulture consultants, attracting numerous visitors and learners for benchmarking purposes. They charge Sh500 per individual and Sh5,000 per group for their consultancy services.
