Providing shelter for my family

Benson

Ciondo Road, Engineer, Kenya

100% repaid

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How it Works

Entrepreneur

Name

Benson

Member since

September 2013

On-time repayments

392 installments • 61%

About Me

My names are Benson Kaniu Karanja, and I was born in the year 1978 in Kiambu County of the central Province in Kenya. I went to Kirangari High school for my KCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education). After my KCSE, I joined Kabete Technical Training Institute in Nairobi where I graduated with a diploma in Laboratory Technology. I am married with two children.

I have worked with CAIS as a laboratory technician for 3 years, where we were dealing with production of bull semen and selling it to farmers for artificial insemination, so I have experience in dairy management and generally agriculture production.

My Business

Besides working as a laboratory technician at Muruaki Secondary School, I am a farmer specializing in dairy farming in Kinangop. I also grow wide range of cash crops like potatoes, peas, carrots and cabbages. I am also a member of Tulaga farmers SACCO, where we sell our milk and get paid at the end of the month. Kinangop is endowed with weather that favours production of such cash crops and customers come as far as Nairobi.

My income per month ranges from Ksh. 8,000 (USD $90) to Ksh. 13,000 (USD $140). After deducting expenses, it amounts to sh 6000 ($70) per month as net income that I add to my salary at my work place for family upkeep and payment of school fees.

I intend to borrow a Zidisha loan to increase my farming activities with the help of my wife, who is a housewife. With this Zidisha loan, I will be able to boost planting by planting in a land that is currently sitting idle. I live just some few meter from the Turasha River which, though seasonal, I will take advantage and water my crops during the coming dry spell. This will put me at an advantage, as I will not rely mostly on unpredictable weather. I also want to plant more feeder crops for my cows to boost milk production.

From my workplace I have net income of Ksh. 14,000 (USD $150) and will keep part of my personal savings to go towards this project. We are approaching closure of schools, and I don’t work during the holidays, so I will be in a position to set the ball rolling and, furthermore, this will be close to two months. I also don’t work during weekends (i.e, Saturdays). Therefore, I will be having at least a day in a week to concentrate on my project.

I do also have plans to purchase a simple water pump that will enable me do some irrigation to my crops, particularly vegetables and cabbages, which have ready market due to their ever-increasing demand. When prices go down, I will be using them as fees for my cattle and this will increase milk production.

Loan Proposal

Lenders am intending to construct a semi permanent house for my family ,the one we are living is in deplorable condition, hence the need to construct a good one. The cost of raw material is as follows :70 drum @u.s.d7,30 iron sheet@usd 10 each,labour usd 400 cementing material usd 500.through my personal saving, i will meet any extra cost that may be incurred. Lenders please consider funding my project.

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About Me

Am a farmer in kinangop, went through my early Primary education Limuru where the family later transferred to Kinangop. I later joined joined secondary school for my KCSE. After my KCSE, I joined college in Nairobi where I enrolled for a diploma course. I do have experience in dairy management and generally agriculture production.

My Business

Besides workings ,am a farmer specializing in dairy farming in Kinangop. I also grow wide range of cash crops like potatoes, peas, carrots and cabbages. I belong to Tulaga farmers SACCO where we sell our milk and get paid at the end of the month.
Collections or income per month range from Ksh. 8000 to ksh 13,000 per month. its wholly depend on weather condition as when we have a lot of rain the production of both livestock and crop is high thus increase in income,the challenges we encounter are the preservation of fodder to have milk throughout the year.this will enhance and increase milk production in my farm.