Johnson and Nancy Kimani run KIMNA Farmers Hub in Githioro, Njabini . They were inspired by James and Mary to launch a vegetable seedling nursery only a year ago. Already they have over 500 farmers they are supporting with high quality seedlings, market linkages, soil testing (supported by OCP-Africa), training and advisory services. As a senior in his community, he was worried that high-quality without thinking about the sustainability of his enterprise. Fortunately, his daughter, Esther Njeri Kimani decided to come back from running a small retail and Mpesa (Kenya’s leading mobile money service) kiosk to support and eventually take over the enterprise from her parents. Unmet needs include a reliable and affordable supply of affordable treated growing media and reliable market access for their farmers’ produce. One option they are exploring to add to the nursery is farm management for absentee ‘telephone farmers,’ which could add productivity and resilience to those farms (versus being operated purely by casual labour) and an additional income source for their Hub.
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