Smart Farm: Mixed Farming

Your contributions will not be taxed. Retirement Benefits Authority. Safeguarding your retirement benefits. As Mzee Danson Jehia diligently goes about weeding his farm, one would be forgiven for thinking he's but one of many subsistence farmers in rural Kenya. But far from it, Mzee Njehia, who retired from the Nairobi City Council, is a commercial farmer. His decision to venture into commercial-oriented farming did not, however, come easy. Part of the money he got after retiring went into buying land to expand his farm in Wangige. And it is from here that he widened his horizons as a farmer to take up commercial poultry farming. Today Mzee Njehia has a brood of over 2,000 layers that have literally enriched his retirement nest egg. The produce by his brood is sold to customers as far as Kisii County in Uganda. And these 2,000 layers are giving us, on a weekly basis, after subtracting expenses here and there, somewhere in the region of 10,000 shillings every week. That would add up to about 40,000 shillings a month. Mzee Njehia has also diversified into dairy farming, having bought three dairy cattle, which produce between 35 and 45 litres of milk per day. Mzee Njehia's farm is self-sufficient as he grows Nepea grass for his cattle, with a little for sale to other dairy farmers. Besides poultry and dairy farming, Mzee Njehia also generates an additional 40,000 shillings every month from his vegetable garden. Here he grows greens such as spinach and traditional vegetables such as managu. Despite the good fortune that the farm has brought him, Mzee Njehia says he would not have reached these heights had he not prepared well for his retirement. My advice to the young people, you either save and live a happy life like me, or not save and live a miserable life after retirement. And that is good food for thought in a country in which only 15% of its population can boast of having a financial plan in place for their retirement. Your contributions will not be taxed.