From Marketing Desk to Greenhouse: How Constance Akiso Earns KSh 50,000 Weekly from a Quarter-Acre Farm

When Constance Akiso quit her marketing job early this year, many of her friends thought she was making a mistake. But just three months later, she’s smiling all the way to the bank—earning over KSh 50,000 per week from her thriving tomato and capsicum farm in Rongai.

Leaving the Office for the Farm

“I left employment on January 2 to start farming full-time,” Akiso recalls. For years, she worked in sales and marketing at different institutions but never found true satisfaction. Farming, however, was always her dream.

Her decision raised eyebrows among colleagues who couldn’t understand why someone with both undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications would abandon a corporate career.
“My friends told me I was wasting my papers,” she laughs. “But the truth is, the skills I learned in school are what I now use to run my agribusiness.”

Turning Passion into Profit

Before taking the leap, Akiso spent a full year researching agribusiness—reading success stories, attending field days, and studying market trends. Eventually, she decided to specialize in high-value vegetables—tomatoes and capsicum (bell peppers).

In November last year, she leased a quarter-acre piece of land in Rongai and installed two greenhouses, investing around KSh 600,000 in total. Her capital came from savings and a small bank loan.

Interestingly, the company that installed her greenhouses was run by a farmer she had once read about online. “It felt like things were coming full circle,” she says.

Growing Her Agribusiness

Under her registered business, Conbel Fresh Produce, Akiso now harvests about 500 kg of tomatoes and 200 kg of capsicum every week. Her produce goes to supermarkets and high-end markets in Nairobi.

“I started looking for customers before my crops even matured,” she explains. “That helped me avoid post-harvest losses and ensured that my produce had ready buyers.”

Her weekly sales bring in an average of KSh 50,000, and she expects this to grow as she expands her operations.

Overcoming the Challenges

Like most farmers, Akiso’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. Her biggest hurdle has been water supply — she relies on the inconsistent Nairobi Water system to irrigate her crops since she doesn’t have a borehole yet.

She also hires transport every week to deliver produce to Nairobi markets. “I don’t have a pickup yet, so I hire one. That means I have to be smart with my logistics to avoid losses,” she notes.

Despite the challenges, she remains positive and determined. “In everything I do, I put my trust in God,” she says with a smile.

Advice for Aspiring Farmers

Akiso believes that successful farming requires focus, patience, and business discipline.
“To make it in farming, you have to do it full-time,” she advises. “You can’t run a farm by phone or rely on casual visits. It needs your full attention.”

Her story is a reminder that agriculture is not a fallback option—it’s a viable business. With research, passion, and commitment, even a small piece of land can yield great profits.

Key Takeaways:

• 💰 Weekly Income: KSh 50,000 from tomatoes and capsicum

• 🌿 Farm Size: Quarter-acre

• 🏠 Location: Rongai, Kenya

• 💧 Main Challenge: Water supply

• 🚚 Future Goal: Own transport and expand production