Martine’s success story
Martine is from Kalopeikim Village, Lobanya Parish, Kacheri Sub-county and a member of Touinai farmer group and he is doing farming on two acre of inherited land. He invests around 150,000 in the vegetable garden yearly and makes a profit of 300,000. Martine started farming three years ago; it has been a family inspiration for him to do the vegetable farming. He took a loan of 50,000 from VSLA to get started on his vegetable garden and knowledge that he received before DDS-NK since he is a trained vegetable garden operator but now DDS-NK boosted his skills and knowledge.
Martine started by growing tomato, eggplant, and chilly, green leafy vegetables. Now, he sometimes pays labor in his field regularly to make the field clean and to pick up the vegetables. He grows tomatoes, cabbage, pumpkin, carrots and chilies in a year and sells them in his local market and in big hotels within Kotido i.e. La Maison.
His income has to stretch to feed two adults and one child. The wife sells local brew “Ebutai” and also Bakes chapatti as part of the household and help Martine with their substantial driving force.
He explained that now he has learned the techniques of farming off-seasonal vegetables in the training organized by DDS-NK and other community members in the village have been motivated to also grow off-seasonal vegetables. Martine says: “The soil plays a big role in cultivating good vegetable farming.” But its only long stretch of dry spelt and wildlife animals within the year which is a challenge to him.
According to Martine the spray needed for vegetable production will depend on range of factors such as, weather, temperature, rainfall, and quality requirements for the vegetables. Martine uses organic pesticides on his vegetables and inorganic pesticide if the crops require it but in an appropriate amount, and he is sure to follow the procedures properly, as there are legal requirements that you need to apply with when using chemicals.
Right now the women living in Lobanya visit Martine’s Vegetable garden to learn the technique of agriculture and use of organic pesticides and in that way he is seen as a community leader.
Martine proudly says if anyone is interested to learn and observe farming from his vegetable garden they are most welcome, and he especially gives preference to teaching women
The exposure visit at NUBUIN farm was a huge success, it now allows them to show value to farming, they also learned how to plan a farm business and ensure the financial success of the operation and small farming can be enough for a family of three to live a good life.
Many thanks go to DDS-NK with the Aid from Mennonite Central Committee for supporting him and the community at large.
Thank you.