Meschack Mwobobia turns a village in Semi-arid area into ONION FARMING haven

In Meru County, Ngarindari village, a farming revolution has taken shape being engineered by Meschack Mwobobia. The man has transformed 40 acres of land in a semi-arid area into an agricultural haven of onion farming, providing livelihood to many locals who work in his farm.

Meschack Mwobobia started off farming tomatoes and selling them at Kongowea market; Mombasa. He shifted to French beans for export but with the restrictions put in place in regards to MRLs and other factors beyond his control, he quitted and ventured into onion farming. This was at a time when seed companies had come up with improved hybrid onions seeds which could withstand pests and diseases. He has named the small holding Meshack Farm, drawn from his Christian name.

“My journey to farming dates back to 1987 as a trained graduate teacher. The first crop I ventured into were tomatoes, it was very lucrative and I made good sales which later on informed my decision of transitioning from classroom to becoming a fully fledged farmer,” he said.

At Meschack Farm they aim at farming sustainably; using less chemicals, less pesticides and less synthetic fertilizers. This was informed by their largest buyer ‘Twiga Foods’ who purchase from them on contractual terms as well as increase in lifestyle diseases. Most people are concerned on what type of food they eat, thanks to media and internet where many reports highlights to the masses, where the food is grown, how its grown and how safe it is. Nowadays, people have also embraced nutritionists advises on food consumption.

“Farming of these high value onions requires specialized training; the farm has tapped into the services of local workforce whom we have been able to train on agricultural management. The workforce has been pivotal in transferring the knowledge to local workforce, majority of them being women. The workforce has undergone theoretical and practical training on farming which include planting, bed maintenance, weeding, irrigation, harvesting and packaging,” he stated.

Production of good quality onion bulbs fit for the market is dependent on various factors. First he has sort the assistance of an agronomist who guides on good chemical application and control of pests and diseases. For instance, Ngarindari village being relatively dry area, insurgence of thrips is high and they can wipe out the entire production within a day when not controlled. Secondly as onions require water throughout, having a reliable source of water is very crucial. Meshack has tapped water from a nearby river with the approval of Water Resources Authority (WRA) at a fee which is subject to annual renewal.

According to Meschack, onion farming is lucrative. It’s among the most profitable crops to grow since it has high demand in the market and is less perishable. “I have been telling farmers visiting us to always think of opportunities. We have initiated onion farming in Ngarindari village that has traditionally been regarded as dry area. This should motivate more farmers to embrace the high yielding, high value crops that will give them more returns and economically empower them. We have shown that it can be done, and this is our clarion call to our people to adopt farming. When I see people coming here to source for information and purchase the onions, am always humbled,” he said.

Onions are one of the crops that are relatively easy to grow compared to many other crops making it advantageous especially to smallholder farmers. It is one of the silent money makers in Kenya. In a country made up of over 40 million people, it is definite that the households will use onions in preparing their meals, thus the market is insatiable.

He attests that farming needs all attention just like what is required in office; you need to be involved. Long gone are the days you could make a phone call to inquire from your farmhands which activity needs to be done and at what time? Anyone wishing to delve into farming and has this archaic mentality then their success rate are not guaranteed.

As the horticulture industry champions for sustainable practices and buyers increasingly become conscious of how the food they purchase and consume is grown, farmers are now faced with the responsibility of ensuring that their produce meets global standards even as they focus on taming the cost of production. Water and pests control remain as the issues farmers are currently grappling with.