Loan purchase solar-powered warmer for keeping food fresh

Judith

Tajo Village, Kenya

100% repaid

Entrepreneur

Name

Judith

Member since

April 2015

On-time repayments

102 installments  •  24%

About Me

I am Judith Akoth, I was born and raised up in a rural community of Mbita. I was the 1st born in a family of six. My parents were peasant farmers.

My early life was really hard. We were faced with lack of food most of the time. I did not continue to High School and got married at a very early age. My husband is a Carpenter. I have struggled with life and raising surplus income to supplement my husband meager income has been a challenge.

Lack of proper income to support our young but steadily growing family compelled me to start a mixed organic food & trees farm in a lease 1 acre land.

This mixed farm has done so well and produce enough food to feed my family of 4 children (3 boys and 1 girl), though started as a very small farm behind our main house, this farm has grown and I had to sale off surplus food to neighbours. This is how my current farming business began in my backyard.

In my free time, I do visit the sick in the nearby Mbita District Hospital to pray and encourage the sick.

My Business

I started growing kales which was highly productive. The new organic farming techniques were introduced to us by the USAID, an American NGO working with women, orphans and vulnerable children to create social - enterprise among African peasant farmers for holistic development. From the income of the surplus food sold, I developed a passion for this business I liked the business with time I had collected almost one turn of manure and started horticulture farming. Things turned out well,and I was able to pay for my children school fees with ease even after the sudden death of my husband.

I grow kales, carrots, watermellons, cabbages, onions, tomatoes and oranges for sale. The farm is doing well, though it has not expanded very well due to some interruptions.

I choose this business because it is less capital intensive and kales grow so fast. I do keep goats that produces manure which we use to grow kales, while the farm gives them feeds.This symbiotic relationship has made farming to be even cheaper.

I normally use KES 19,000 to pay casual labourers helping me in my farm on a monthly basis and take home a profit of KES 12,000 per month besides vegetable, tomatoes and kales for use at home.

Loan Proposal

I am seeking a loan of KES 22,024 to enable me buy a solar - powered food warmer box for keeping food fresh. My fresh food business has picked up and doing very well. I am now using kerosene fueled stove to keep food warm for clients. With a solar-powered food warmer, i will be able to keep food fresh.

It will keep food fresh and enable me to serve my clients with a lot of ease and increase my profit with 30%. I will repay the loan in time and seek more funds.

Feedback

1

None

None



Loading...

Loan Info

Project Type

Classic Loan

Disbursed amount

$228.00

Date disbursed

Jul 6, 2015

Repayment status

On Time

Projected term

4 months

Lenders

investor

Candiac, Canada

BrassHat

Boston, United States

G

golivera

Lima, Peru

korben

VILLENAVE D'ORNON, France

G

giaco

madrid, Spain

Zidisha

Sterling, United States

T

ToddK

Indianapolis, IN, USA, United States

JimVandegriff

Trinidad, California, United States

rasmus

Bern, Switzerland

R

rholden

glen iris, Australia

D

davide

Vallentuna, Sweden

ads68

Melbourne, Australia

P

PetrusR

balmoral, Australia

T

Tui1974

nuenen, Netherlands

fairspirit

Utrecht, Netherlands

Bobrm2k3

Charleston, United States

Matching Fund

Sterling, United States

mhooper1962

London, United Kingdom

mepster

San Francisco, Ca, United States

D

Desteli

United States

D

djlayton4

United States

MW

Matt Willis

United States

PT

Pattie Thomas

United States

KW

Kevin Wehber

United States

V

Vivek

Arlington, VA, United States

Y

YP

Malaysia, Germany

JD

Jeff DePree

United States

R

Rors

United States

G

GS2

Germany

Ask Judith a question about this project, share news and photos of your own, or send a simple note of thanks or inspiration.

Please log in to comment.

  • Eunice    Jan 24, 2018

    I have talked to Judith, she has been hospitalized for 3 months but she is recovering on well now. She will start loan repayments in February.

    Log in to reply • Share
  • YP    Apr 5, 2016

    Hello Judith,
    How are you? How is the business doing?

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wendy Emlyn    Jan 13, 2016

    Hello Judith, can you get in touch with Zidisha to reduce your payments to a more manageable level? That is better than letting yourself get behind with your payments, which can make it harder to get a future loan.
    God bless you,
    Wendy

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Judith    Dec 21, 2015

    I will re-adjust my weekly remittances when the business improves.

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Gladys    Dec 11, 2015

    Dear Zidisha Team,
    I have tried to call Judith but she is not answering mys calls. I have talked to Eunce Odero one of the invitee and she said she will look for Judith and ask her to pay her loan.

    Thank You,
    Gladys Adera
    volunteer Mentor.

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Judith    Nov 17, 2015

    I am happy for your financing. I will use the loan prudently and repay back in good time. Thanks so much my dear lenders.

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Judith    Jul 4, 2015

    Thanks alot to ZIDISHA Lenders for Lending me again. I will repay in good time to access more funding for my business expansion.

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Judith    Jul 3, 2015

    Thanks a million to ZIDISHA lenders for the loaning that has helped me to expand my food business. It is now doing very well.

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Judith    May 18, 2015

    The business turnover is very low in this rainy season.

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Gladys    Apr 28, 2015

    Hello Judith,
    Thank you for your photo profile, and I wish you the very best.

    Gladys Adera
    Volunteer mentor

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Gladys    Apr 16, 2015

    Dear Judith,
    I can see you are having a few equipments for the restaurant, but I would request you to at least show a good display of photo that can clearly show your face. This will boost the lenders to fund you.
    Best wishes

    Gladys Adera
    Volunteer Mentor.

    Log in to reply • Share


Loading...

Loading...

Loading...