My name is John Korgoren. I taught for almost two and a half decades before joining small-scale farming in the harshest environment in Chepalungu, Bomet County. I cultivate kale, cabbages, and beans and try to negotiate the offer of nature to gain the most. I have devoted many years of my life to teaching, coming up with the next generation, molding young people, and seeing them develop into good citizens of society. As I mentioned, I am now a retired person, but the desire to pass knowledge does not disappear – it only transforms – it blossoms in the fields or the society you are in.

There is always a struggle in the life of people living in Chepalungu since you are likely to encounter very unforgiving weather, and allocating resources is likely to be quite a challenge. But this land is one I wish I had never known, but it has instilled in me the values of endurance and fighting. That is where I became acquainted with how to deal with the irregularity of farming, together with the calmness of life. These are those that give me the strength to carry on with the work, the desire for the fruits, and the positive thought that tomorrow's weather may be more friendly.

Teaching is still a part of my persona and whenever I can I help and teach the younger ones. The land might be harsh but the life, the lessons, it is not far from the classroom. I believe that education and agriculture share common roots: In both of them, one has to wait patiently while dedicating time and effort and showing commitment to the development of the young regardless of the situation.

In my farming, I deal with low-scale farming, where I am involved in growing staple foods such as kale, cabbages, and beans. These crops are always in high demand, for they are the main staple foods for many a family in the region. It is comforting knowing people get fresh locally sourced foods and I feel honored to be in a position to supply fresh, healthy food to my community. Farming may be arduous, but it is a steady business risk there would be no better way to make ends meet in an area like Chepalungu where the resources are a little hard to come by, and options are few and far between.

This business I took up because it gives hope for self-sustenance in the society. Well, after being a teacher for many years, I thought I could help society in some other way and farming proves to be the kind way. Also, it provides me with the possibility to pursue the teaching profession further by passing the farming concepts to people.

This means that expenditure for my farming operations costs approximately 31,600 KES, including seeds, fertilizers and labor. My usual revenue per season is approximately 60,700 KES only, depending with the market and conditions of the harvest. I take most of the profits that are realized from the farm and reinvest them back in the farm with an aim of achieving more growth and more productivity. Part of it is on school fees for my grandchildren and on essential repairs and alterations of the house.

My aim of this farming business is to make it a big one thus enabling it grow and be in a position to support the family as well as supply the market. Appropriate investment on this business could lead to increased yields and further expansion on business expansion thus being able to further contribute to the improvement of the community.

The money I would get from this project will enable me purchase crucial facilities that will enhance my farming activities. This consist of seeds that are of high quality, fertilizers and other crucial farming implements. Besides, I will set a portion of the funds meant for labor costs to aid with the planting, weeding as well as the harvesting. Such investments shall be of benefit as they will enable me to expand the number of crops I am producing, hence increasing yields and productivity.

The returns to be gained out of this investment will not only be in my selfish self interest. This will enable me to feed the growing population, especially with foods such as kale, cabbages, and beans, which are essentials in the locality. Further, I will be able to use more local labour, which shall go a long way in creating employment, particularly in areas where they are hard to come by.

These, I believe, will enhance the profit levels that I am expecting to make in the business entity. At the moment, I am able to earn about 50,000 KES per season. Better quality equipment, seeds, and access to more vast land lead me to believe that my profits will be at least 30% higher and will enable me to expand more on the farm.

Lastly, I want to stress that this is not only an attempt to enhance my income and improve my lifestyle but also to make a difference and trigger many beneficial results in the community. If my farm is productive, I will ensure that more foods are available in Chepalungu, offer employment to the people, and pass on knowledge to others in society to enable the development of the area.