I decided to start serious farming in April 2013. I use the word serious because, prior to that I had some pet projects and ideas that simply stayed as they were. In March 2013, things shifted within me. I think you may call it an epiphany of sorts. I decided to begin commercial farming on our little piece of land in Upcountry Kenya.
With the tremendous support of my family, the process began. We decided to start with onions, after doing massive amounts of research, and discovering that onions are pretty easy to start with for a first time farmer.
Thus the process began of seedbed preparation, land tilling, top dressing, transplanting, and so on. During this process, we engaged with local upcountry farmers and we began to share on our experiences- well in total honesty we were asking…. And how do you plant this again? How do you apply pesticides again? What’s the ratio of fertiliser again? From their answers I could tell that these guys knew more than any book or website I had read, but, things were not adding up.
As a nineties kid, I have had the privilege of leaning everything via Google. Therefore, during the research phase of this farming project I was able to come across very useful and insightful information. Donors, NGO’s, Governments, and other institutions continuously release information on agriculture. What is even better, this information is very relevant, practical, and easily replicated. However, there seemed to be a disconnect with the data. The information wasn’t fluid and it would take ages to piece together processes, methods, guidelines, laws, regulations,and, others- which was a very frustrating process. For example donors would release information on planting potatoes, but the Kenya Seed Company would have information on the type of potato seed to use, and m-farm would give you details on the prices of potatoes for the week.
Thus An Idiots Guide to Farming in Kenya was born. This blog aims to synthesise data on agriculture and eventually be the go-to-guide first time farmers like my self. The information posted here will be recent and most importantly systematic, so that we all GROW!
Thank you for reading this! Lets get growing!
The Kenyan Farmer