A Kenyan man living in the United States has opened up on how he has managed to reap big profits from his onion farm in Kenya.
Reverend Joseph Oloimooja, who resides in Los Angeles, California with his family, says he manages to run his farm located in Maili Tisa area, Kajiado County through phone.
The career pastor says he moved to the US about 20 years ago to study a master’s degree in theology and is currently the head of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in the Leimert Park, Los Angeles Diocese.
Oloimooja says he started his agri-business at the beginning of the year, initially planting the crop on a one-acre farm. His first harvest in April gave him 18,000 kilograms of bulb onion and sold each kilo at Sh75, translating to Sh1.35 million.
“I started with an acre to test the waters, luckily, there was huge demand for the commodity in the markets at the time enabling me to sell at Sh75 a kilo,” says the pastor who also grows managu and spinach which he sells at Namanga market.
He says the decision to venture into onion farming was informed by the desire to create jobs and make use of his vast land that was lying idle.
“I once came home and saw that we were importing plenty of onions from Tanzanian farmers yet we have plenty of land and the same climatic conditions. This challenged me,” says the pastor.
Oloimooja says the first harvest pushed him to increase his onion farm to five acres and is now expecting to harvest at least 90,000 kilos in a few weeks time.
“I begin prompting potential buyers on social media informing them that my produce will be ready in about 120 days,” explains the farmer.
How is does he manage to run his business from abroad?
“Initially, I had employed my relatives but having fallen victim to rip-offs, I changed tack. I have now employed people who are not related to me after through vetting,” Oloimooja who advises Kenyans in the diaspora against engaging relatives in their ventures back home says.
“Most of them will try to take advantage of you, diverting money you send them for your projects to pursue their own developments. Later when you realize, you can’t fight them back because they are family.”
He reveals that social media messaging app WhatsApp has been key in helping him keep in touch with his employees at the farm.
“I also have the overall farm manager and operations manager to coordinate the workers. I also take good care of my workers so that they feel appreciated,” adds the clergyman who now plans to turn his 200-acre land into an onion farm.
Kograts for goid agriculture…
Kograts for goid agriculture juu this is where cash is but 20 years ago to study masters in theology which takes 3 years to complete??How comes u never went back home after completing school Ama $$$$ ilikundanganya pastor???i hope you continue harvesting more n plant varieties.The onions coming from Tz r cheaper than za Kenya Which Majority comes kieni nyeri county.The gava needs to give subsidies like cheap fertilisers n other cheap farm stuff so we can compete with Tz onions.Hata mahindi,Mayan ya Uganda is cheaper than Kenya so our gava needs to look at this Agriculture sector.
Why can’t the Kenya…
Why can’t the Kenya government take steps to control East African Trade because the Kenyan Farmers are the ones suffering through this and of course Kenya in general. Tanzania for example is so cruel to Kenyans you wonder how we are benefiting from their trade. This is not fair. Kenyaxit maybe necessary or renegotiate the terms. I am no expert but heck, agribusiness is suffering.
How can Kenya gava take…
How can Kenya gava take control of East African trade ?as you already said it’s East African trade it’s unfortunate that Tanzanians have been very un corparayive to Kenyana but isn’t this the reason East African Intergratiob is all about? Live and behave like we r one person? There must be a place where such complaints should be addressed coz exit is not a solution nor is it an option at this time
Guys it’s calked free trade…
Guys it’s calked free trade n in free trade such things happens n there is nothing much the country can do.The only responsibility a country should have is subsidize farmers so the cost of production can come dwn ndio we compete with cheap onions from Tz n cheap mayai from Uganda .I sell a tray of eggs for 300ksh but the once coming from Uganda is 240ksh.In Kenya Wr buying feeds too expensive while in Uganda feeds r cheaper.
The math does not add up…
The math does not add up here. If one acre gives you Ksh 112,500 a month and 5 acres Ksh 562,500 no need for employment in the US. Go back home and mint even more money from your farming.
Lesson here, be very careful about such miracle businesses. Sounds too good to be true.