I enjoyed reading Carol Musyoka’s candid, self-deprecating confession about her farming adventure (City slicker’s guide to losing money on a farm in the Business Daily, January 19, 2026) precisely because it was honest.
No motivational slogans. No talk of “learning curves.” Just a clear-eyed admission that farming has a way of puncturing confidence, budgets and carefully constructed urban optimism.
That honesty deserves applause. Too many people lose money on farms quietly. Fewer are brave enough to turn the experience into humour and insight.
Her piece resonates because it captures a truth many city dwellers discover the hard way: farming does not reward enthusiasm alone.
And yet, almost every good farmer, urban or rural, has failed first. Farming humbles everyone equally. The difference is not whether one stumbles, but whether one learns where the ground actually is.
I say this from experience. For over 25 years, I have founded and scaled businesses built around soil fertility. I have walked fields with farmers, dug soil samples to check acidity and nutrient availability, and worked alongside professional agronomists, soil scientists and research institutions to turn science into practical results.
So here is my challenge to the city-dwelling desktop farmer. Yes, it is possible to generate Sh250,000 per acre per year, or more—but only if you follow a few golden rules.
First, let the land decide. Most new farmers begin by asking what they want to farm. The land has its own preferences. In Kenya, soils are often acidic, shallow or exhausted. A simple soil test, often cheaper than one bag of fertiliser, can explain years of poor performance.
Before choosing crops or animals, listen to the soil. It rarely lies.
Second, get the human equation right. A caretaker watches. A manager executes. A partner thinks. Farms work best when owners engage consistently and align incentives, not when they supervise from a distance.
Third, treat inputs as instruments, not expenses. “We use fertilisers and pesticides” is not a strategy. Correcting soil acidity, balancing nutrients and matching inputs to crops reduce waste and improve crop resilience.
Fourth, secure the market before the seed. Farming without a market is optimism with muddy boots. Planning sales before planting saves disappointment later.
Finally, count the right returns. Farming repays you with better food, personal fulfilment and stronger rural livelihoods—and some cash, when climate risks are managed with the right soil, science and planning.
The writer is a Kenyan businessman and an entrepreneur.
