My name is Maureen Chepkurui born in the year 1993 at a village called Matobo, found in Kericho county-Southern Rift. Started my early education in the year 1999 and completed my Secondary Education at Chebonei Girls High School in the year 2012. My interest is travelling and dancing and I have practicing a lot at evening as part of keeping my health through rigorous exercise. During my high school period, Agriculture was my favorite subject because the theory that is learned in class room can be put into practical use considering the fact that my home area, the weather and climatic condition is favorable for farming and for this reason Kericho County is well known for the growing of tea. Being an entrepreneur has been the reason that enable me to start banana plantation farming at home for which it is consumed at home when it is still green and the bananas can be eaten when ripe as a dessert or cooked. The Horticultural Crops Development Authority- Kericho Branch has been giving us training on the best banana varieties and the market opportunities.

The banana plantation is my business. The reason for choosing bananas is because they are beneficial nutritional properties. They are a good source of vitamin c, B6 and A. Bananas have a high content of carbohydrates and fiber. The market for bananas is very good and a bunch of banana goes for $10 at the market price. The best variety that I planted in my home normally matures at a period of 9-12 months. One sucker planted can give a maximum of a bout ten other mature plant and when it's approaching the ninth month, the fully grown bunch of banana can be three or four and the others can give a space each of one month to mature. Every month at least 15 bunch of bananas can be sold at the market and this can generate a monthly income of $150. The monthly income generated cause to the paying of schools and meeting other general family needs like medical and food expenditure. The banana plantation does require artificial fertilizers when planting, it only require organic manure, so there is minimal expenditure that is only generated during the plantation period. Suckers spring up a round the main plant. The eldest sucker replacing the main plant when it fruits and dies, and this process of succession continues indefinitely. The die stem can be used as the livestock feed and extra can be sold at $0.5 especially during the dry season when there is minimal grass to feed the livestock. This can generate extra cash. The financial support I'm seeking from zidsha will be used to expand by buying the latest suckers varieties that can mature at a period of six months to improve the productivity. Thanks

Bananas can be grown successfully in my area, so with this loan from zidisha, it can used for the purchase of of 50 banana suckers of the variety known as Valery. The cost of one sucker sold at the Horticultural Crops Development Authority- Kericho Branch is at $2 and the total cost for the suckers will be approximately be $100 and the rest will be used for the labor and transport cost which is negotiable. After six months the 50 planted suckers can generate an extra income of $500 for the 50 banana bunch sold at the market price of $10 per banana bunch. The profits from the banana will be re-invested and construction of a more permanent house for my parents.