Potato farming

Rachel

Nakuru, Kenya

100% repaid

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How it Works

Entrepreneur

Name

Rachel

Member since

January 2015

On-time repayments

307 installments • 77%

About Me

My full name is Rachel Wanjiru Njuguna. I am married with one son. I grew up on a farm with my 4 siblings. My dad is a farmer and he has been very kind in mentoring me and showing me how to go about farming. I have done potato farming for the last two years. I started with one acre and last year I did two acres.
I have a diploma in marketing management. Apart from farming, I work as an accounts clerk in a hotel.
I started potato farming with my savings. My dad encouraged me to think outside of the box and start farming.
In 2011, I gave birth to my son and I decided to be a stay at home mum until January 2014 so that my son could get the best care. It was not easy because my husband's income was not much. I started saving from the money he left me for daily use. I joined women's groups and this has really helped me to save and support my family.
From this experience, I have become very passionate about women's empowerment and I really encourage the women I interact with to save and work hard. I hope one day to have an organization that supports women.

My Business

I do potato farming. Potatoes are always in demand in Kenya. Apart from the french fries which are consumed daily in hotels, potatoes have many other uses. I chose potato farming because, having grown up in a farm, I have seen how farming can change peoples' lives. My dad was able to educate the 5 of us through farming. Farming also has good returns when done properly.
The typical costs in potato farming are: seeds, fertilizer, labour and pesticides. One spends like 35,000 in an acre and you get a profit of 30,000 to 40,000 within 3 months. I use the profit I get in educating my son, for reinvestment and for house expenses.
My plan is to be able to do more than 50 acres with time. I am requesting this loan because I believe I can start small and go very far.

Loan Proposal

Apart from y 8 to 5 job as an accountant i depend on farming to boost my finances. Farming has really helped me towards becoming financially independent. i will use my next loan to expand on this business.
i will continue doing potato farming since it always has a ready market and it is used on a daily basis in most homes and hotels in Kenya.
i recently started supporting a some boys who stay in a children s home in Nairobi. i bought them school bags and shoes. Getting the loan will improve my financial situation so that i can continue supporting the boys with whatever i can. i will also be able to give my son and my family an improved livelihood.

LOAN BUDGET
LAND LEASING - 450 DOLLARS
FERTILIZER - 650 DOLLARS
SEEDS - 450 DOLLAR
LABOR - 420 DOLLARS
PESTICIDES - 750 DOLLAR
TRANSPORT- 150 DOLLARS

Show original English

About Me

my name are Rachel wanjiru. I am a farmer and a businesswoman. I am also employed as an accountant.
I am a single mum with one child who is now 8 years old. I separated from my husband 2 years ago and it has not been easy especially financially.
I work Soo hard to provide for my son so that he can have a good education and life in general.
This year has been particularly challenging because of the economic situation in Kenya and also the weather change

My Business

The last loan I got really helped me financially. The weather was not good the the crop production was not good.
I also started chicken farming in August and that helped a lot with my financial situation.
This year in January I opened a shoe shop and it has been doing very well.
I also have a monthly salary where I am employed as an accountant.