My names are Mercy Mugure Kimani. I'm married and have 3 children. I was born in Kiambu district in the Kiambu county which was in the former Central province. This is about 50 miles from Nairobi.
I went for early education near my rural home, which is just a walking distance and this was so good as I did not get tired going to school, unlike my counterparts.
Later I went to a school in Nairobi, Uthiru Girls high school, and after my form 4 exams, I joined a college in Nairobi to do my study in Front Office & Housekeeping.
I got married in the year 2010 and relocated to my current township of Nakuru which is 130 miles south of Nairobi.
I have been practising horticulture with my 5th loan and am happy to let you know that it was a wise decision.
Farming is not only a passion that I have, but the challenges and the ability to oversee crops from seeds to maturity and finally selling them and earning brings lots of excitement.
The farming I was doing was overhead irrigation which has it's own shortcomings, but on the other hand the profits are big. Within the first 6 months, I had started realizing profits upto 80% more.
This is the reason I want to move to a more intesified Greenhouse farming which is more productive and harvest are bigger hence the projected income will definitely double in the next half year.
My 6th Zidisha loan is intended to improve the productivity by engaging in newer methods of agribusiness. That is why I plan that with your assistance, through the loan you will lend to me, I plan to have a Greenhouse of 8 x 15 Meters constructed on my piece of land.
I plan to start with Tomatoes, Onions, Beetroot, capsicums and other fast maturing market crops which have a higher return on investment.
COST OF PROJECT
1. Construction of a 8X15 meters greenhouse ...................$800
2. Assorted Hybrid seeds.......................................$100
3. Labour.......................................................$50
4. Miscelleneous expenses.......................................$50
TOTAL COST....................................................$1,000
This project will run along side my normal overhead irrigation and will effectively increase my profits by more than 100%. I will also be able to employ about 2-4 people, thereby creating employment and increase food availability within my community.
My family's livelihood will also be better and this will bring harmony in our marriage.
MODE FOR LOAN REPAYMENT
My plan for repaying my loan is that, I can comfortably live with the income from my earlier horticulture farming. Then, the new income generated by the Greenhouse farming, will be directly channeled towards paying my loans.
I also have a boutique, and I can dedicate about 30% of the income towards repaying this loan.
I wish to thank all lenders in advance, as I am confident of your generous funding and as with my previous loans, I promise to repay all my loan to the last cent.
May God bless you and your families.
Mercy.