Farmer rakes fortune by selling online

OLX country manager Peter Ndiang'ui. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • All the farmers do is to post their produce on the sites and wait for calls from potential customers.
  • Over 50 livestock farmers advertise on the platform every day, according to OLX Country Manager Peter Ndiang’ui.
  • OLX Head of Marketing and Communications for East Africa Priscilla Muhiu says the firm is keen on making farmers sell their produce online to avoid brokers and for more income.

Online sites have become the new marketplace for farmers seeking to evade middlemen, many who are accused of buying produce at low prices.

All the farmers do is to post their produce on the sites and wait for calls from potential customers.

The new strategy seems to be paying off as some farmers are making a fortune.

Apollo Kimani, a dairy farmer who specialises in breeding calves in Githunguri, Kiambu County, is among those making good money through the online sites.

“I recently inseminated 10 heifers. I am hopeful all will have successful insemination,” says the dairy breeder, who uses sexed-semen to end up with female calves only.

As other members of the Fresha Co-operative Society, he pays between Sh700-Sh6,000 to have their cows artificially inseminated.

Sexed semen costs more, up to Sh6,000.

“Every three to four months, I get 10 new calves from my cows,” says the farmer, who keeps 35 mature animals.

HIGHEST BIDDER TAKES THE ANIMAL

To keep up with the rate at which his calves are bought, Kimani says he adds at least 30 new heifers to his herd every year.

“I normally advertise my dairy animals on the OLX website and ask for bidders. The highest bidder takes the animal,” says the farmer who sells his heifers for between Sh140,000 and Sh200,000 each.

Last month, the farmer recounts he sold 12 Friesian cows to a farmer from Murang’a County through the online marketplace.

Over 50 livestock farmers advertise on the platform every day, according to OLX Country Manager Peter Ndiang’ui.

While the number is not as many as those who sell other items like cars, TV sets, clothes and houses, few farmers like Kimani who have embraced the site are reaping handsomely.

“I get calls from as far as Moyale and Kisumu. I never thought that I would reach such a bigger market.”

OLX Head of Marketing and Communications for East Africa Priscilla Muhiu says the firm is keen on making farmers sell their produce online to avoid brokers and for more income.