Green vegetables

Entrepreneur

About Me

I am Jane Wanjiku from Kenya. I was born and raised in Kimunye. I attended Mugomo Primary School and, later, Mugomo Secondary School. I wasn't lucky enough to join a tertiary institution.
I was married to Patrick Gatitu and, when I moved to his place, I started farming on the small piece of land he was given by his parents. I started with kale which I used to supply to my neighbours and also to the neighboring villages. This made my profit grow and I bought a heifer from the proceeds of farming kale. With dairy farming and horticulture, we were able to buy a piece of land in Kiumbu village where we later moved to and expanded our farming.
Kiumbu is a semiarid area but is surrounded by three rivers: Nyamindi, Thiba and Murubara. These rivers help us to irrigate throughout the year. Our land is unique because it has good soil for planting rice and with an abundant supply of water. Our land is ever green throughout the year thanks to irrigation. We plant a variety of crops like rice, French beans, tomatoes, watermelons, thorn melons, butternuts and others.
I have 3 grown up sons who work in the city of Nairobi. I have 5 school-going grandchildren. When I am not busy on the farm, I love crocheting. I make shawls and, for my grandchildren, sweaters and booties.

My Business

I am a dairy and horticultural farmer. I supply milk to the local hotels and schools. I grow cabbages,kale, French beans for export, tomatoes, green maize, watermelons and capsicum. I don't plant these crops at once. I alternate them depending on which season favors which type and also market is the biggest determining factor.
With no proper education background, I found farming to be the only source of income for me. Ever since I was a kid, I had a passion for farming.
I have eight cows from which, on average, I get between 200 and 250 liters of milk daily. The money I get from the cows I put into horticulture which is so demanding in terms of fuel and labor. The proceeds I get from the farm I use to lease more pieces of land, if needed, and also for home improvement.

Loan Proposal

Am applying for this loan so as to increase my nursery bed.
The last time I planted this green vegetable seedlings,so many people liked and bought them but unfortunately I didn't meet their demand and this time round I want to plant double of what I had planted.

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