PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA
Starting his own business was not a walk in the park for Dr Onesmus Ng’etich, founder and proprietor of Eldoret Orchards and Nursery Investment in Uasin Gishu County.
Upon his return home in May 2017, Dr Ngetich took a bank loan of Sh2.1 million and purchased a 1.8 acre piece of land at Koilebel, in Kipkenyo area, Uasin Gishu County.
“Now that I owned land and more so close to a reliable source of water, a key factor in setting up an horticulture enterprise, I went for an additional loan of Sh650,000 to invest in piping and pumping of water to the nursery and another Sh250,000 to purchase farm inputs,” says Dr Ngetich who also has a master’s degree from Egerton University.
“A Kiwi plant produces about 240 fruits with a tree generating an average of Sh14,000, which is good money for any investor,” Dr Ngetich adds.
“There is ready market for horticultural crops in the country and it is matter of commitment by farmers to tap investment diversity in the sub-sector and earn better income,” Dr Ngetich says.
