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The Dark Side of Farming
As much as we encourage young people into farming, come armed with knowledge that it is not a Kamau, Onyango, or Mulamwah get rich quick scheme.
Farming is a good venture n can multiply your investments a thousand fold. However, it can also go negative
As much as we encourage young people into farming, come armed with knowledge that it is not a Kamau, Onyango, or Mulamwah get rich quick scheme.
Farming is a good venture n can multiply your investments a thousand fold. However, it can also go negative
The risks to farming include:
Diseases, market flooding, high costs against low yields and ever changing climate.
Although we have successful stories, few negatives are posted.
The pursuit for feeling successful and showing off on social media overshadows the daily failures.
Diseases, market flooding, high costs against low yields and ever changing climate.
Although we have successful stories, few negatives are posted.
The pursuit for feeling successful and showing off on social media overshadows the daily failures.
Whenever losses strike, it is the very point at which we differentiate real farmers and wannabe farmers.
A real farmer will endure the risks, learn from them, pick up pieces and replan while staying focused on the goal.
Wannabe farmer will abandon farming altogether.
A real farmer will endure the risks, learn from them, pick up pieces and replan while staying focused on the goal.
Wannabe farmer will abandon farming altogether.
A real farmer must develop thick skin.
Many examples are out there of farmers encountering 100% losses or more.
I had a 2 acre open tomato farm in 2017. The F1 variety did quite well.
Come fruiting stage, wilt kicked in.
I only salvaged two crates out of over 100 expected!
Many examples are out there of farmers encountering 100% losses or more.
I had a 2 acre open tomato farm in 2017. The F1 variety did quite well.
Come fruiting stage, wilt kicked in.
I only salvaged two crates out of over 100 expected!
Mid 2017 I had over 500 rabbits.
I had no market.
Having bought breeding stocks at 5000 each. I expected at least 2000 from each rabbit.
Nah!
Best I could fetch was 500 each.
It was a waste considering feeding, treatment and management costs.
I had no market.
Having bought breeding stocks at 5000 each. I expected at least 2000 from each rabbit.
Nah!
Best I could fetch was 500 each.
It was a waste considering feeding, treatment and management costs.
2018 March I lost two acres of capsicums after the first harvest to drought that ran to April.
I had no back up irrigation system.
July 2018, I lost 2000 Kroiler chickens to coccidiosis despite having vaccinated twice. Apparently, Giathri, an agrovet, sold me fake vaccines!
I had no back up irrigation system.
July 2018, I lost 2000 Kroiler chickens to coccidiosis despite having vaccinated twice. Apparently, Giathri, an agrovet, sold me fake vaccines!
2016, I did F1 tomatoes on 2 acres.
It was a bumper harvest.
The market was however flooded.
A crate went for ksh. 800, dropping from ksh. 11000 a month back!
It was chaotic!
It was a bumper harvest.
The market was however flooded.
A crate went for ksh. 800, dropping from ksh. 11000 a month back!
It was chaotic!
Come 2017, I did tomatoes.
I left them when almost ripening for the first harvest in the hands of my aunt as I had away assignment.
She sold everything and didnt send me even 1 bob!
She gave me endless explanations on my return. Not money.
I left them when almost ripening for the first harvest in the hands of my aunt as I had away assignment.
She sold everything and didnt send me even 1 bob!
She gave me endless explanations on my return. Not money.
From August 2018 to 2020, I decided to change tact and became more handson.
Though part time, I dont give excuses and work around the clock to avoid being hit by more risks.
So as you get into farming, know it is not an automatic get rich quick scheme.
Though part time, I dont give excuses and work around the clock to avoid being hit by more risks.
So as you get into farming, know it is not an automatic get rich quick scheme.
I will not bore you with more failure stories from personal experiences.
But I will leave you with one statement:
Farming is not for the fainthearted get rich quick wannabes.
But I will leave you with one statement:
Farming is not for the fainthearted get rich quick wannabes.
