Growing up on a farm inspired Kanana to venture into agriculture. She has added a modern touch to the business, using social media for marketing, introducing her products to formal retail outlets and expanding into pig farming. On the other hand, Ndegwa observed his mother run a small tailoring business.
When he started his own venture five years ago, he decided to do textile production on a bigger commercial scale, and has carved a niche in manufacturing school and staff uniforms, as well as branded promotional items and sportswear. Ndegwa has also taken it a step further by participating in multi-million shilling tenders.
Christine Kanana (29) holds a degree in business administration and a diploma in law, but she has focused her energies on running a poultry and dairy farm in central Kenya. Last year she started also keeping pigs.“
I have been told by many I will not make it in farming, that it will take years to succeed, and they give examples of others who have failed in agriculture. But I am passionate about it,” says Kanana. “I want to soil my hands with that dirt. I love farming.”“It all comes down to commitment and passion.
Don’t go into farming because you saw someone make lots of money out of it. Yes, we are in business for money – but let it not be the only driving force. You have to make peace with the fact that you will fail at some point and in agriculture it can hit you hard. It can really disappoint,” she warns.“
I would get up in the morning to place the feeds and find 50 birds dead. In the afternoon I would find another 50 dead. In two weeks I had lost the whole bunch of 2,000 layers. It was a big loss because I had taken debt, I had bought feeds. If there was a time to give up, that was it. But it inspired me to learn more about viral diseases and how to better manage my risks.”
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