strawberry farming success story of Huron
Mugo and Catherine Moha.
After graduating from college with a diploma in education, Ms
Catherine Moha started looking for a well-paying job.
Catherine Moha started looking for a well-paying job.
“I tried all possible avenues, but it was all in vain,” she told Money.
But at her rural home in Ruiru, was a parcel of unused land, which
was soon to be her stepping stone in opening a strawberry farming and
processing start-up with her elder brother Huron Mugo.
was soon to be her stepping stone in opening a strawberry farming and
processing start-up with her elder brother Huron Mugo.
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| strawberry farm |
Two things informed her decision. “You see, I had not eaten
strawberries before and I longed to find out how they taste; but the
challenge was their cost.
strawberries before and I longed to find out how they taste; but the
challenge was their cost.
A kilo was going for Sh400 and I could not
afford that,” she recalls.
afford that,” she recalls.
One day her mother’s friend came visiting and in their conversation,
the visitor said strawberries would do well in their family farm.
“I started with eight stems and to my surprise, they produced three
kilogrammes of strawberries. I ate most of them,” she adds.
kilogrammes of strawberries. I ate most of them,” she adds.
At this point, Ms Moha began to think business and brought her
brother on board. “Before this, I was a sales person at Brookside but
when I saw what my younger sister had achieved in three months, I
took the challenge and quit my job to focus on strawberry farming,”
said Mr Mugo.
brother on board. “Before this, I was a sales person at Brookside but
when I saw what my younger sister had achieved in three months, I
took the challenge and quit my job to focus on strawberry farming,”
said Mr Mugo.
It has now been two years and the siblings have over 6,000 strawberry
plants, out of which 1,000 are giving fruit.
plants, out of which 1,000 are giving fruit.
They have also registered a company, Tunda Farm Strawberries,
which they plan to use to export the fruits to Europe.
which they plan to use to export the fruits to Europe.
“Today, I have over 6,000 strawberries with a monthly return of
Sh150,000.
Sh150,000.
God loves and blesses humble beginnings,” Ms Moha stated
on one of the company’s social media marketing platforms expressing
her joy for her achievements.
on one of the company’s social media marketing platforms expressing
her joy for her achievements.
This success has, however, not been easy for the two. The fruits need
to be delivered to the market while fresh but they did not have the
capacity to achieve that from the word go.
to be delivered to the market while fresh but they did not have the
capacity to achieve that from the word go.
VALUE ADDITION
“When the fruits ripen, they go bad real fast if they are not
plucked,” Mr Mugo said. To overcome this challenge, Mr Mugo said he
researched on value addition.
“When the fruits ripen, they go bad real fast if they are not
plucked,” Mr Mugo said. To overcome this challenge, Mr Mugo said he
researched on value addition.
“I discovered that I can make jam from the fruit. And all I need is
sugar, the strawberries and lemons,” he said. “There are instructions
on how one is expected to mix them to come up with the final
product,” he added.
sugar, the strawberries and lemons,” he said. “There are instructions
on how one is expected to mix them to come up with the final
product,” he added.
The two have now shifted their focus from selling berries to processing
jam. Their immediate market was the neighbourhood but social media
has connected them to more customers for both their fresh fruits and
jam.
jam. Their immediate market was the neighbourhood but social media
has connected them to more customers for both their fresh fruits and
jam.
“We sell a 250 gram tin at Sh200 each, this worked well for us and
in the first week, we made Sh7,000 in one day. This is what made us
notice that there is worth in adding value,” he said, adding that he
needs a quarter kilogramme of strawberry to make the 250 grammes
of jam.
in the first week, we made Sh7,000 in one day. This is what made us
notice that there is worth in adding value,” he said, adding that he
needs a quarter kilogramme of strawberry to make the 250 grammes
of jam.
“The market still needed more but we did not have the capacity, this
is why we are partnering with farmers from across the country to
sell us the fruits that we can process as we wait for our 5,000 stems
to start producing,” Mr Mugo said.
is why we are partnering with farmers from across the country to
sell us the fruits that we can process as we wait for our 5,000 stems
to start producing,” Mr Mugo said.
Strawberries are less prone to pests and diseases but require a lot of
attention. “The plants need to be observed frequently for the farmer
to see if they are developing runners. Runners make the main plant
unhealthy and you are expected to cut them. Strawberries also need
constant watering,” he added.
attention. “The plants need to be observed frequently for the farmer
to see if they are developing runners. Runners make the main plant
unhealthy and you are expected to cut them. Strawberries also need
constant watering,” he added.
Their 6,000 plants occupy less than an eighth of an acre and the
siblings plan to have 20,000 plants to step up their jam processing unit.
siblings plan to have 20,000 plants to step up their jam processing unit.
For aspiring farmers, “when you decide to start strawberry farming,
ensure that you have plenty of water and organic manure.” You will
also need to keep pruning and keep weed off the garden.
ensure that you have plenty of water and organic manure.” You will
also need to keep pruning and keep weed off the garden.
“It is also important that the farmer is patient, as the first three
harvests are not as huge,” he cautions. The plant start producing
berries after three months.
harvests are not as huge,” he cautions. The plant start producing
berries after three months.
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