Onions bring tears of joy to former banker-turned farmer

Gikunda Meme was a credit manager at a local bank but in 2003, after years of employment, he decided to quit his job, arguing that it was not paying him well despite all the time and work he put in.

Mr Meme, who was 50 years at the time, decided to go into farming.

Using Sh2.7 million – a combination of his savings and severance pay – he started by growing French beans at a farm situated on the Nanyuki-Isiolo road in Meru County. This venture did not do well so he turned to other crops.

Today, his business —Subuiga Hilltop Farm — is five acres big and makes the former banker Sh5 million in revenues after every three months of harvesting onions and tomatoes.

“Way back in 2003 l opted for an early retirement and went into farming. l used to compare the job l was doing, what l was earning and what I could get from farming. I realised I could get more from farming and quit,” he told Enterprise.

Mr Meme, who has also worked as an auditor in several institutions, has sub-divided the farm into two; on one portion he grows hybrid tomatoes in six greenhouses while cultivating onions in the open field.

He chose to start farming onions because after three to four months, a regular and dedicated farmer can earn handsome returns compared to other crop varieties that take longer to mature.

Between the months of May and December, the demand for onions is high and Mr Meme says that he has since mastered the seasons that he should plant the crops in order to maximise profit.

A kilogramme of onions at Subuiga Hilltop farm goes for Sh80 when demand has peaked and between Sh40 and Sh50 when the demand dips, mainly due to excessive onion production which flood the market.

Onions are generally long-day plants, which means they need days with more than 12 hours of daylight. Therefore, only varieties with lower day-length needs can be grown in Kenya.

Popular varieties, which are available at companies such as Monsato and Simlaw Seeds are Jambar F1 (for size and high yield) or Red Passion F1, Bombay Red and Red Pinoy (they have a lower yield but are in high demand at the market and fetch a higher price than Jambar F1).

Onions need around four months to mature. The last three weeks before harvest, the weather should be absolutely rain-free.

“For every acre I have planted hybrid varieties of onions, a farmer can harvest up to 15,000 kilogrammes. l plant five kilogrammes of certified seeds which yield approximately 80 tonnes on harvesting,” he said.

“At times, l also lease the neighbouring farms when demand is high and l need to produce more. We germinate the seeds in the month of November, transplant in January and start selling in May when demand is high.”

For every three-month planting cycle, Mr Meme says it cost him about Sh600,000 to purchase certified seeds, chemicals as well as to pay the his two managers and tens of casual workers on the farm.

Mr Meme usually sells his produce to traders at Gakoromone market which is near his farm. He also has a contract with Uchumi Supermarkets to supply onions and tomatoes.

His farm is also the main supplier of primary and secondary schools, and other institutions in and around Meru and Isiolo.

But his main challenge is controlling diseases and pests such as thrips and powdery mildew which he says can be extremely destructive and force him to invest heavily in agrochemicals.

Sometimes inadequate rainfall is a problem, forcing the entrepreneur to construct two dams to store water. His farm is located in the semi-arid part of Buuri Sub County.

Through farming for over a decade, Mr Meme has invested in the real estate sector, with a multi million shilling rental apartment flat at Runogone Township in Imenti North being testament of his success.

“While l was working as a banker l had not made an investment that l could be proud of,” he said.

“Through faming, l have been able even to get into real estate investment, the flats that l have built in a quarter acre plot is from the money l got from my farming that is why I don’t regret quitting a job many think is very well-paying.”