When Richard Wageni abandoned tea farming after 15 years and ventured into flower farming, many of his neighbors and friends ridiculed him.They discouraged him from turning his farm into a flower farm, but he was determined. He had been a tea farmer for many years, but as he puts it, he had nothing to celebrate about the business. Wageni says he thought tea was the only crop that could earn him a decent income. However this proved otherwise six years ago when a field officer from a flower exporting company visited Kihuri village in Nyeri County with bags full of goodies for farmers.The officer first promised to market flowers for the farmers who were ready to accept his plan and Wageni didnt think twice about the opportunity.Now, those who laughed and ridiculed him are slowly buying his idea. He says most farmers neighboring his farm are slowly uprooting tea for flowers, which earn him much higher compared with what he earned from tea. I have never regretted, not even a single day why I ventured into flower farming, the flowers mature quickly and there is ready market, what more would I want? a happy Wageni says. Wageni was among the first group of farmers who were trained on flower farming by the company at the foot of Aberdares, but many gave up and abandoned the project since they had high expectations.Most of my colleagues whom we started with gave up since they expected instant profit, I didnt give up and my patience is now paying, says Wageni.Today, Wagenis farm is a sight to be held not to forget that he laughs all the way to the bank as his income has also gone up.I cannot compare my income now and what I used to earn when I was only growing tea, I will forever remain grateful for the officer who opened my eyes, he adds.In a month, I can make 50,000 shillings from a half acre piece of land but if it was tea, such money would take an year to get. There was a time I made a cool over 100,000 shillings in two months after deducting all the expenses.Agencies
