By Angela Mutiso and Ochara Clive
Making Agri-Business Work for The Urban Farmer
I’ve always been enthusiastic about farming. Over the years, I’ve tried several different farming ventures, which have had varying levels of success. I have learned to be patient and realistic with my expectations. For anyone caught up in the 9-5 rat race that is typical of life in Nairobi, an article in a farming magazine or online blog about some lucky chap making millions of shillings from a quarter acre in Oloitoktok growing onions and tomatoes can seem like heaven on earth.
After all, crops like that are a staple in most Kenyan homes. Farming can seem like the perfect side hustle for someone who wants out of the exhausting ruckus of city life. I know quite a few people who have thrust themselves full force into agribusiness; after reading a newspaper column or watching a feature about someone else’s success story- why not? How hard can it be?
Most agri-business success stories fail to highlight how important it is for a farmer to be physically present at the farm for things to go well. The challenge many city dwellers will face after venturing into agriculture is not being able to drop everything else, move to the village, and brave it out on the land. I say this because of countless conversations with other aspiring farmers and my experiences. Yes, I, too, have fallen victim to the over-enthusiastic headlines (allow me not to go into too much detail on that – all I can say is I should’ve spent my hard-earned capital on a trip to Mombasa instead).
Talk to any serious farmer, and they’ll tell you that your presence is the key to success in farming. My father often quotes a proverb to this end: “The master’s eye makes the horse grow fat.”* Similarly, a friend from the Borana community shared a proverb from his village in the north, which translates to: “The presence of the herdsman determines the success of the flock.” Across many cultures, the idea that a farmer’s physical presence is crucial to the success of their farm is a recurring theme.
But what happens when you’re passionate about farming yet live in the city, far from your rural farm? For many Nairobi residents, this is a reality. Over time, such people have come to be known as *telephone farmers*—urbanites who manage their farms remotely. As the term implies, telephone farmers manage their farms primarily through phone calls. Typically, they visit their farms on weekends, once a month, or whenever it’s possible to get away from work.
Disappointment often follows when they realize that critical tasks such as weeding, irrigation, and pest control have been neglected despite the necessary materials and money being sent. It’s not uncommon for livestock farmers to find their animals either underfed or missing entirely. The farmhands, or “shamba boys,” as they’re known, can be pretty creative when crafting excuses- after glugging away your “fertilizer money” at the local pub. I was once told, in intricate detail, how a black mamba had slithered into my rabbit enclosure and devoured all seven of my rabbits, making a swift escape afterwards, and how a devastating disease left all my chickens dead.
Torn Between Two Worlds
Being physically present on your farm has clear advantages—you can monitor progress, address issues immediately, and keep operations running smoothly. However, for urban dwellers, obligations often stand in the way. Many aspiring farmers are trapped in the relentless cycle of city life, juggling demanding jobs, long commutes, and endless responsibilities that prevent them from fully committing to their farms. The daily grind leaves little time or energy to oversee farm operations firsthand, making it challenging to maintain efficiency and solve problems as they arise.
For those who can’t relocate to the countryside, being torn between two worlds. On the one hand, you’ve got a job or stable source of income; on the other, there’s a plot of land that you hope can one day get you out of the hamster wheel- which is city life. Most people cannot choose between the two and inevitably become telephone farmers. When that happens, the most innovative approach is to embrace your situation—bloom where you’re planted—and strive to be the best telephone farmer you can be.
Are there any advantages of being a telephone farmer?
For the most part, farming is not a get-rich-quick venture – so if you’re relying solely on your farm for income and living off the land, it could take years to see significant returns. That’s one of the advantages you hold over other farmers. Most telephone farmers have other sources of income to substitute what they get from farming.
In the book titled “Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies” by Meine Pieter van Dijk, Gigi Limpens, Julius Gatune Kariuki, and Diederik de Boer, it was reported that telephone farmers are “more innovative through an emerging ecosystem contributing to agricultural innovation, rural employment, and income generation and function as the engine for value chain development.”
The book attributes the success of certain agri-businesses to telephone farmers. “Burgeoning cheese production in Kenya is an example. It is the result of an attempt to service emerging urban high-end markets as well as fast-food restaurants. It is driven by medium-scale farmers.”
Balancing City Life and Successful Farming
One thing’s for sure, though. It cannot be business as usual for telephone farmers. Success requires a different, more strategic approach. As a farming enthusiast, I’ve discovered that there are ways to earn money from your farm without being there 100% of the time.
One effective strategy for telephone farmers is to focus on long-term plants. While crops like Sukuma wiki, onions, and tomatoes seem profitable and exciting, they require constant attention and can be converted to “instant cash” by farmhands. This can lead to challenges when you’re not around to supervise. Instead, consider planting things that take longer to mature but are low-maintenance once established. Fruit trees like mangoes, avocados, and citrus are excellent options. They require minimal effort and investment, making them ideal once they start bearing fruit. Plus, they provide a steady income over time.
Another excellent agribusiness venture for telephone farmers is beekeeping. This is a low-maintenance, high-reward business that doesn’t require daily attention. You can start your beekeeping project with minimal capital and some training, available through private companies in Nairobi, the Beekeeping Institute of Kenya, and other institutions.
Why Beekeeping Works for Telephone Farmers
- Minimal Time Commitment: Beekeeping does not require daily input. You only need to check on your hives at least once a month to ensure everything is running smoothly—that the bees are healthy, producing honey, and free from disturbances.
- Multiple Revenue Streams: Honey is just the beginning. Beekeeping produces several by-products, such as beeswax, propolis, and royal jelly, which have significant economic value.
- Low Risk of Theft or Vandalism: Bees are often feared by locals, so your hives are less likely to be tampered with. This makes beekeeping a secure venture, even in remote areas.
- Adaptability to Dry Regions: Beekeeping is particularly suitable for drier parts of Kenya, where crop farming may not be viable. Bees thrive in such environments, making this a versatile business option.
Getting Started with Beekeeping
– Start Small: Begin with 20 beehives to test the waters, then scale up to 40 or more as you gain experience.
– Use Simple Equipment: Top bar hives are great for beginners. They are affordable and don’t require expensive machinery for harvesting—you can do it all by hand.
Being a telephone farmer doesn’t mean you’re less committed to agriculture. It means adapting to your circumstances and finding innovative ways to make farming work for you. There are plenty of opportunities to turn your farming dreams into a thriving business—even from the heart of Nairobi. By choosing the right crops or ventures, building a trustworthy team on the ground, and leveraging technology to stay connected, you can successfully balance city life with your passion for farming. Besides, Your accounting knowledge will give you a strong advantage.
Angela Mutiso is the editorial consultant of the Accountant Journal- cananews@gmail.com, Ochara Clive is a business writer and entrepreneur.
