Crop production and livestock rearing
Timothy
Kakamega, Kenya
23% repaid
Entrepreneur
Name
Timothy
Member since
April 2017
On-time repayments
206 installments • 87%
About Me
I'm Timothy Ayemba from Kakamega County in Kenya. I'm an entrepreneurial farmer and a part-time student at the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST). I'm also a Volunteer Mentor for some of the other Zidisha borrowers in my country.
To be able to attend university was a struggle that began way back in nursery school, because my parents were unemployed when I was born. To raise school fees was a hard task for them. It often was not possible for me to sit in class, due to inability to clear school fees, so I missed most of the lessons.
My mother used to tell me, and I quote: "Perseverance is the best way to make impossible thoughts to be real dreams you will enjoy after succeeding in class." From that advice, I developed the urge to study hard. While in primary school, we used to dig for people on their farm on the weekends and sometimes on weekdays when sent home for lack of payment of school fees. We sacrificed and agreed to pay all the money charged by the school.
This happened for eight years, but I managed to complete the eight years of primary education. Then, I proceeded to secondary school, with the same struggles as before. In secondary school, in fact, it was worse because school fees were higher. I didn't stay home due to lack of school fees, though. Instead, I worked for people to earn some money, so I acquired work skills while still in school. I started a business of farming while in high school to finance my education. By God's grace, I completed high school and managed to receive passing grades.
My core business is farming and I'm proud of the work of my hands because it has made me who I am now. In my homestead, I practice crop production and I also currently rear cows for dairy production. The income from these farming ventures is what is financing my education at the University. It also is what I use to feed my family, and to repay my Zidisha loan.
I started farming in 2014, while in high school, and after my father had passed away, as there was no one to assist me because my mother was unemployed.
I have balanced farming and my education, as I would come from school and carry out my farming chores, such as feeding the livestock and other farm work. The weekend days were the best days for me to fully do farm work.
I completed my high-school education in hardship, due to lack of school fees, as mentioned, but now Zidisha is financing my farming projects; hence, I am managing to sponsor myself at the University. Due to limited time, I have chosen part-time studies in order to have quality time to do my farming.
At the university, I'm undertaking Agricultural Education and Extension, and this is my second year. I work smart, which is why I'm able to manage several things at the same time. I thank Zidisha lenders for your support.
In the area where I live, the land is sloppy but very fertile, and rain distribution is good throughout the year; hence, crops grow very well.
People from the western part of Kenya like bull-fighting. This culture is widespread here, as almost all people in the country watch it. I also enjoy watching bull-fighting, which usually is done on Saturday mornings. Also, when a person dies who used to rear a bull or bulls, before being buried, bulls are brought to fight next to what will be that person's grave. This is very interesting because sometimes they may end up falling into the grave while engaged in the bull-fighting.
I have adopted a son called Ryan, who currently is in elementary school. He aspires to be a doctor, as he wants to be a part of saving people's lives.
This January, my wife and I are expecting a baby, as my wife currently is in her last weeks of pregnancy. We will be grateful to have our own baby, who will make us happy together with Ryan.
I am a choir instructor, and I'm proud of this because I serve people from diverse communities.
Additionally, I support sports in my area. In fact, over the December holidays in 2017, I was able to start a new football (soccer) team called Mundulu F.C. It's comprised of youths under the age of 17. I want to nurture their talents and, with time, I want it to become a football (soccer) academy. Currently, I am the coach.
I trust that with help from Zidisha lenders, my projects will prosper, my university studies will be accomplished, my children will access education, my family will eat, and my single mother will enjoy the fruits of my hands.
My Business
My main source of income is from farming, that is to say crop production and animal rearing. I started this in 2014, while I was still a high-school student.
From crop production, I generate $250 U.S.D. per season, and there are two seasons per year (as per my organization and management of the crops). Of course, this means that I generate $500 U.S.D. per year from crop production. My crops include kale, tea, maize, and Napier grass.
I also rear cows for dairy production. I used to have two cows, but one died of a viral disease called "Rinderpest" (a.k.a. "cattle plague" or "steppe murrain"). Fortunately, the other cow survived. Daily, I generate $5 U.S.D. in dairy production, which is about $150 U.S.D. per month.
The money earned is used to run my farm. I run two projects for diversification (raising crops and rearing cows for dairy production). This way, even if one project fails, there may be the possibility that the other project still would go on.
Loan Proposal
I first thank my precious lenders for the support they have given to me in the past. You have stood firmly with me in financing my business and I promise not to disappoint you at any point. I will remain honest and faithful in my financial relations with you.
The loan I am requesting that you fund for me would be used to purchase a Friesian calf, costing $100 U.S.D., because one of my two cows passed away from disease, as mentioned above in my "My Business" section. The reason for going for a calf is to maximize the use of the loan. A mature cow is more expensive, so I would feed a calf and raise her to maturity .
Since my shaded space currently is limited, I would use $40 U.S.D. to set up a structure to provide more shelter. I also would spend another $40 U.S.D. to purchase animal feed, as well as to plant Napier grass to feed the livestock so that the calf can grow and the other cow can be nourished, too. Additionally, $10 U.S.D. would be spent to buy Acariside to help enable the animals to be free from mites and ticks.
On the side of the crop production, I would use $20 U.S.D. to purchase maize seeds for propagation, and fertilizer costing another $20 U.S.D. Additionally, I would spent $20 U.S.D. on labour. And I would use $50 U.S.D. for pest-and-disease management on the farm so as to have healthy crops of good quality.
I expect that the livestock would generate $200 U.S.D. per month, which would be from milk production.
From maize cultivation, I expect $500 U.S.D. per season. The total income from that would be $1,000 because, as mentioned previously, I have two growing seasons per year.
$350 U.S.D. would be used to repay my Zidisha loan.
The profit from farming would be $300 U.S.D., of which I would use $40 U.S.D. to pay for Ryan's school fees.
I would use $160 U.S.D. of the $300 U.S.D. profit to purchase another cow. The remaining $100 U.S.D., I would reinvest into the business, too.
Thank you, once more...
About Me
I'm Timothy Ayemba from Kakamega county found in Kenya. I'm Zidisha Volunteer Mentor in my country, an entrepreneur and also a part time student at the university of Mmust. To land at the university is not a joke because the struggle started all the way from nursery school. My parents were unemployed during the time I was born. To raise school fees was a hard task for them,some times I was not possible to to sit in class without clearing school fees and this made me miss most of the lessons. My mum used to tell me I quote '' Perseverance is the best way to make impossible thoughts to be real dreams, you will enjoy after succeeding in class. " From the advice I developed the urge to study hard, in primary level we used to dig for people during weekends and some weekdays that I was sent home for fees and we sacrifice to be agree but pay all the money in school. This happened for eight years and I completed my std eight education and proceeded to secondary school with the same struggle. In secondary it was worse because school fees were high I could stay home due to lack of school fees but I could work for people and earn some money and I acquired skills while still studying. I started business of farming while in high school to finance my education and by God's grace I completed form four level and managed to pass. My core business was farming and I'm proud of the work of my hands because it has made me who I'm now. In my homestead I practice crop production and rearing of dairy animals to date. The income from this farming is the one financing my education at the University , feeding my family and also repaying the Zidisha loan. I started farming while in form three in the year 2014 after my dad died and there was no one to assist because my mum was jobless. I used to balance farming and my education, I could come from school and carry out my farming and feeding of livestock and especially weekends was the best day to work fully.
I completed my high school level in hardship due to lack of school fees but now Zidisha is financing my project hence I am managing to sponsor myself in University. Due to limited time I have chosen part time studies in order to have quality time in my project. At the university I'm undertaking Agricultural education and extension and this is my second year. I work smart that is why I'm able to manage several things at the same time. I thank Zidisha for your support.
Our land in the area where I live is sloppy but very fertile hence crops grow very well and rain distribution is good throughout the year. People from western part of Kenya like bull fighting and this culture has been enriched and almost all people in the country know this. I enjoy watching bull fighting and this usually is done on Saturdays in the morning or when a person die and he used to rear a bull, before he is buried bulls are brought to fight besides the tomb. This is very interesting because sometimes they may end up falling in the tomb while fighting. I have adopted a son called Ryan and this year he has moved to std two. He aspires to be doctor so as he can be saving people's lives. This January I'm expecting a baby, my wife is in her last weeks of pregnancy, this is week seven. I will be grateful to my own baby and they will make me happy together with Ryan. I'm Zidisha volunteer mentor, choir instructor and I'm proud of this because I serve people from diverse communities.
I also support sports in my location, I was able to start a new team over December holiday of 2017 called Mundulu FC, it contains youths under 17. I want to nature their talents and with time it will be football academy. Currently I'm the coach.
I trust in Zidisha,my projects will prosper, my university studies will be accomplished, my children will access education my family will feed, my single mum will enjoy the fruits of my hand together with the help of Zidisha lenders.
My Business
My main source of income is from farming, that is to say crop production and animal production.
I started this while I was a high school student particularly in form three in the year 2014.
From crop production I generate 250 USD per season and there are two season per year as per my organization and management of crops. This means per year I generate 500 USD per year from crop production. These crops include maize plantation, tea plantation, kale production and neppier grass production.
I do also rear dairy cattle, they were two but one died of rinderpest and one survived. Daily I generate 5 USD and per month is 150 USD. The money is used to run the project on my farm. I run two project for diversification progress, one may fail but I will still go on.
Loan Proposal
I first thank my precious lenders for the support they have given to me for the last 11 months. You have stood with me firm in financing my business and I promise not to disappoint you at any point. I will remain honest and faithful in my financial relations with you.
The loan I'm requesting you to fund me will be used to purchase a fresian calf worth 100 USD to replace my dairy cow which died some months ago.The reason for going for a calf is to maximize the use of the loan hence mature one is expensive, I will feed it to maturity .
Since my shade is having limited space, I will use 40 USD to set up a structure.
I will spent 40 USD to purchase animal feeds plant nappier grass worth 50USDto feed the livestock in order to make my livestock grow. 10 USD will be used to buy acarisite to enable the animal to be healthy. This closes the chapter on the side of livestock production.
On the side of the crop production I will use 20USD to purchase maize seeds for propagation, fertilizer worth 20 USD,labour 20 USD. I will use 50 USD for pest and diseases management in the farm so has to have healthy crops and of good quality.
I expect the livestock to produce 200 USD per month which is from milk production.
From maize plantation 500 USD per season. The total income will be 1000. 350 USD will repay Zidisha loan. The profit will be 300 USD which I use 40 to pay for Ryan school fees. Reinvest 100.The remaining 160 I will purchase another cow.
Thank you once more, I will be much cheerful to see my loan funded 100%.
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Loan Info
Project Type
Classic Loan
Disbursed amount
$349.00
Date disbursed
Jan 20, 2018
Repayment status
Late
Projected term
41 months
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Mary Feb 10, 2018
Timothy Mar 10, 2018
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