I was born and raised in Taita/Taveta district. I'm the fifth born in a family of eight. My childhood memories are full of nostalgia. I was raised on the farm, so hard work is part of my nature. I remember waking up at 5 in the morning helping our mom milk the cattle and take the milk to the dairy then rush off to school. Back from school in the evening, we would fetch water from the river and water the crops that my mom planted on the farm. During holidays and weekends, we will be either tilling the land, harvesting crops, tending the sheep, cattle and chicken, or just playing around with mother nature. After finishing primary education, I went to high school and passed my exams. I proceeded to college where I did an Accounting/finance course( CPA and ACCA). Through all the hardship I faced growing up, it turned me into what I am today. Someone one who never gives up and always works hard to achieve my goals. After being employed for some years, I kind of got tired of working for others and decide to get into self employment. The only thing that came to my mind was farming, as it somthing that the youth never have interest in. Farming is what fed me and schooled me all through my childhood. So I bought a farm with the money I had saved and started farming bit by bit. The good thing about my land is there is a big permanent river near by. So I plant crops all through out.

My first born wants to be an international marathon runner/ enterprenuer, while my other son wants to be an engineer/ livestock farmer. My hobbies are plenty but I enjoy cooking and creating new dishes for my family and playing board or video games with my kids.

In my farm, I mostly grow maize, which after harvesting, I dry it. I also grow peanuts, red onions, traditional vegetables. These crops that I grow are very in demand because Ugali(made from maize flour) is the stable food for Kenyans. People now are turning to eat more healthy options, so traditional vegetables are in high demand.

I chose this business as it was something that I enjoyed doing since I was a child. I have always had the passion for farming, and luckily enough I got married to a man who also enjoys farming.

My costs are labour, fuel for the water pumps, pesticides, manure and fertilizers, transport to ferry the harvested goods to the market, administrative cost. All these cost me about $250. My revenue, depending on the season and demand usually is about $500 or more. I usually plant my crops such that I have monthly sales. It will be easier to repay the loan with my monthly sales.

I reinvest the profit that I make back into my business, and use some of the profit for my family upkeep, and also save some amount for my kids education in the years to come.

If I'm given this loan It will greatly assist me to be able to expand my farming. I will be able to get more seeds to plant.

If I will get the loan, it will help me to diversify my farming. So I will buy watermelon seeds and pesticides.This is what I will use the money for.

Seeds $40

D.A.R $30

C.A.N $25

Fungcide $30

Insecticide $20

Citishooter $15

By planting watermelon, it will make me grow financially and help my family in so many ways, create employment for others as I will eventually need more workers.

My profit margin will increase a lot. I intend to plant the watermelon on an acre of land, each watermelon will approximately weigh 5kgs, and a kilo is going for $0.10. An acre of land can approximately produce 40,000kg, but I've calculated the lower side. If I can produce 20,000 kgs then that will be $2000. So hopefully, I will get a profit of above $1000.