Kakamega model farmer catches the eye of agriculture's big boys

Monica Makokha firmly believes that opportunity favours those who plan ahead.

This is why several major agricultural organisations and government agencies are making a beeline for her 11-acre farm, located in Buchifi area, Etenje Ward, Mumias West Sub-County in Kakamega County.

Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro), SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, Kenya Seed Company, Ministry of Agriculture, Western Seed, Farm to Market Alliance, and GIZ have set up demonstration plots on her farm, which serve as training sites on best agricultural practices to local farmers.

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She also maintains several farms for her own food production, growing crops such as cassava, beans, maize, sweet potatoes and vegetables.

“Many people look at me and assume I’m just lucky to partner with these organisations. I am not. They found me ready and prepared for the opportunities,” she explains.

Monica shares that the death of her husband, an auditor with the Ministry of Finance, marked an unexpected turning point that led her into agriculture in 1994, to fend for their five children.

She inherited sugarcane fields, but the collapse of Mumias Sugar Company in 2015 forced her to change tack.

She uprooted sugarcane from five acres and planted maize, harvesting 60 bags, an outcome that reignited her passion for agriculture.

In 2006, Monica partnered with Kalro’s millet project. The organisation trained her and provided seeds, which she planted on two acres of land.

After harvesting, each acre yielded nine bags. “I sold the produce, and the money went into my children’s education,” she says.

Monica explains, the success of the millet project encouraged Kalro to return with a potato project. With their guidance, she was able to become a commercial supplier.

However, when Monica first planted potatoes, starting with one acre and later expanding to four, locals questioned where she would find a market for them.

Then came the Covid-19 pandemic, followed by lockdowns. Schools closed, and children returned home, increasing the pressure on households' food supplies.

Suddenly, the demand for potatoes, including sweet potatoes, surged as people began sourcing food locally. “I received hundreds of people, even from distant places, coming to buy potatoes, sometimes even at night,” she recalls. Monica currently sells orange-fleshed sweet potatoes at Sh50 per kilo.

She also keeps Toggenburg goats for milk. Monica says that from her three goats, she gets nearly three litres of milk daily, which she sells in half-litre cups at Sh80 each.

In addition, she has a banana plantation with both cooking and ripening varieties. Every month, she harvests at least 10 banana stalks.

Monica also keeps fish in her two ponds. She says the Kakamega County Government provided her with a pond liner, 1,000 fingerlings, and fish feed for six months.

The fish project, which began in November last year, Monica says, has already yielded its first harvest. Despite losing about 200 fingerlings, the remaining 800 matured and were sold at between Sh150 and Sh200 each. She is now preparing for the second round.

Monica also keeps chickens and rabbits. In addition to selling them for meat, she uses rabbit urine as both a fertiliser and a natural pesticide on her farm.

She grows yams and cassava as well. Monica explains that she received training from Kalro on cassava processing and value addition.

In 2024, she was recognised as the best farmer and exhibitor in cassava processing and value addition during the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) regional shows.

Monica reveals that her latest venture, supported by Kalro, is a project on millet seed production.

“Kalro has just trained me as a millet seed multiplier and promised to offer me a better price,” she explains. “I am now waiting for seeds from them to embark on the project.”

She has set aside one acre for this initiative, with plans to expand in the future. Monica adds that the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis) is set to monitor and certify the seeds.

Through her interactions with various organisations, Monica has received a range of farm equipment.

GIZ gave her irrigation equipment, while USAID gifted her a solar dryer, chipper, miller and solar water pumps.

“The equipment helps me to process and add value to cassava, millet and potatoes into flour, mandazi and. It preserves vegetables and helps process mucuna (velvet beans) into nutritious beverages,” she explains.

The equipment helps me process and add value to cassava, millet, and potatoes by turning them into flour, mandazi, chapatis, and preserved vegetables. I also process mucuna into nutritious beverages,” she explains.

She explains that since she started farming, Monica has never known what famine is. To her, riches are in the soil.

Monica attributes her success to conservation agriculture, adherence to basic agronomic best practices, diversification-avoiding reliance on a single crop, and her passion and resilience in the face of challenges.

Monica leads Zion Miracle Widows Group and has also registered Zion Miracle Crops Aggregation Centre, with plans to begin collecting produce from local farmers and help them access better markets.

“Many farmers abandon agriculture due to a lack of markets and poor prices,” she says.

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Despite early struggles and limited initial support, Monica has built a thriving, diverse agricultural enterprise rooted in sustainability and empowerment.

Her biggest current challenge is the high cost of poultry feed. She is seeking training in feed formulation to manage costs more effectively.

As a trainer, Monica offers practical advice to local farmers on using high-quality seeds, proper use of agrochemicals, fertiliser application and best agronomical practices.

She also serves as an agent for various companies, distributing farm wear and agricultural equipment.

She emphasises the vital role women play in agriculture and encourages husbands to give their wives the freedom to fully participate in farming.

“Many of these projects I’ve been able to do because I am the decision-maker,” she says.

“If my husband were alive, I’m not sure I would have the same freedom. Perhaps he would have had different ideas on how to use the farm.”

Monica says she wouldn’t have succeeded without access to a reliable market. Fortunately, there is a strong demand for her produce, which has made her ventures sustainable.

One of Monica’s upcoming plans is to venture into groundnut farming. She is currently scouting for the best varieties to plant.

She is currently attending training under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP). Monica hopes to benefit greatly from the program, which focuses on value addition and marketing.