Greenfarm Organics

Daniel Kimani beams as he holds handfuls of green, red, and yellow capsicums, clearly delighted with the bumper harvest. This is his second harvest in just a week, and the 200kg of produce from his greenhouse in Kagiko, about 20km from Thika town, signals just how well his crops are thriving. “I’m now certain that growing capsicum was the right decision. It offers a great return on investment and keeps giving for about four months,” Kimani shares. But capsicum is only part of his diverse farming venture. Kimani, a jack of many crops, also grows thorn melon, sukuma wiki (collard greens), spinach, and ginger, a combination that not only brings him financial reward but also immense satisfaction.

The idea of starting a side hustle while working full-time is appealing to many, and farming often tops the list. The plan is simple: put in extra hours, stabilize the business quickly, and by the time you leave your full-time job, the venture is beyond the incubation stage. For me, this approach has taken the form of “telephone farming”,  running my poultry farms remotely via mobile phone. It’s challenging, sometimes frustrating, and the returns can be minimal. But over a year into this journey, I’ve learned invaluable lessons about trust, verification, and persistence.

Kambale’s journey into farming has been anything but ordinary. Today, he manages eight dairy cows, two in-calf, two calves, and four lactating, producing an impressive average of 100 litres of milk per day. But the road to this success wasn’t smooth.

Dairy farming in Kenya is one of the most vibrant agricultural sectors in Africa, contributing significantly to both the economy and food security. With the right management, high-yielding dairy breeds in Kenya can produce between 30–50 litres of milk per day, making dairy farming a lucrative business opportunity. For instance, a cow producing 30 litres of milk per day over a lactation period of 305 days can yield approximately 9,150 litres of milk. At a farm-gate price of Ksh 40 per litre, three cows could generate a gross income of over Ksh 1,098,000 in 10 months. Clearly, the success of dairy farming depends heavily on selecting the right breeds, providing quality feed, and practicing excellent farm management.

Inside the neat rows of cages, a mix of black and white pigs grunt and snort excitedly as their owner, Kinoti Mwebia , tosses them fresh spinach. The 28-year-old farmer from Buuri, Meru County , knows exactly what his pigs love: a daily serving of greens to supplement their regular feed.