Passion for farming takes over

For many years Nandi has been known as one of Kenya’s leading tea growing areas but now more people are turning to growing fruit and vegetables to boost their income.

And Eldoret International Airport has been of great help to those who have embraced horticulture.

Farmers are cultivating flowers, french beans and passion fruit among other produce.

Mr Kenneth Ngetich is among thousands of farmers who have embraced horticulture to benefit from the airport.

He grows passion fruit and with 400 other farmers has formed Lessos Growers Association.

“We are doing well as a group as we are able to get better returns from our sale. This is because we have a strong committee that is in charge of marketing,” he said.

Speaking at his farm where he has planted more than 215 seedlings, Mr Ngetich said horticulture was the best option for farmers with small pieces of land.

“If I had planted tea, I would have waited for three years to start feeling its effects but with passion fruit, four months and you are already harvesting and this has enabled me to take my children to school without any problem,” he said.

Even though the international market has better returns, it demands very high quality which may not be easily available in the local markets.

Mr Ngetich added Uganda was a leading importer of passion fruit, which during peak season fetch about Sh70 a kilo.

Eldoret airport manager Peter Wafula said the airport had created incentives but not at the maximum level.

He said it was promising now more farmers were turning to horticulture to take advantage of direct flights abroad.

“We are seeing a shift as more farmers in Nandi County are taking advantage of the financial institutions that are coming up to get loans and engage in horticulture,” Mr Wafula said.

However, some locals believe feeder roads need to be improved so they can deliver fresh produce more easily.

The airport, some 16 kilometres south of Eldoret Town on the Kisumu road, was built to accelerate economic growth through integration and opening up western Kenya to local and international markets.

It is also expected to exploit the rich tourism circuit of the region.