Nairobi: As prolonged dry spells continue to slash maize production across the North Rift, a Uasin Gishu farmer who shifted to high-value, climate-resilient crops is earning nearly Sh1 million annually, offering a practical example of how diversification can cushion farmers against climate change and unstable markets.
According to Kenya News Agency, David Kwambai, 71, of Kapsoen Village in Moiben Sub-county, abandoned reliance on maize and invested in coffee, avocado, and macadamia farming, transforming his four-acre farm into a profitable agribusiness while many maize growers grapple with declining yields. His success comes as agricultural experts and regional leaders urge farmers to reduce dependence on maize by embracing crops that are more resilient to changing weather patterns and command better market prices.
Kwambai told KNA that he began growing coffee in 2015 with about 100 trees before gradually expanding to about 2,000 trees after realizing the crop generated better returns than maize. “I started coffee farming in 2015 with about 100 trees, and over time I increased the number to around 2,000. Although prices were not very good in the beginning, I realized coffee was still more profitable than maize,” he said.
He said his coffee harvest initially averaged between 300 and 400 kilograms but is expected to exceed 1,000 kilograms this season due to improved farm management and favorable prices. Kwambai sold last year’s coffee through a cooperative society at about Sh700 per kilogram, describing cooperative marketing as a key factor in improving farmers’ incomes. “Coffee harvesting takes about two to three months, but with good care, the returns are worth it,” he said, although he identified coffee berry disease as his biggest production challenge.
Seeking to spread risk, the farmer later ventured into avocado and macadamia farming after losses in cabbage and passion fruit production caused by disease outbreaks and poor markets. His 500 avocado trees, planted on two acres, produce between 50 and 80 kilograms of fruit per tree, with the produce selling at an average of Sh110 per kilogram. “Avocado farming is doing very well because of export demand. We harvest about three times a year, giving us a steady source of income,” he said.
Kwambai has also embraced sustainable farming practices by producing compost from fallen avocado leaves, cow dung, and urea to improve soil fertility and reduce production costs. However, he cited pests, diseases, cold weather, and inadequate irrigation water as the major constraints affecting avocado production.
His macadamia enterprise is also showing promising returns. Having planted the crop in 2018, he harvested about 300 kilograms of nuts last year and sold them at Sh150 per kilogram. “This year I expect even better yields. Macadamia is a long-term investment, but it pays off,” he said.
Beyond crop production, Kwambai practices apiculture and livestock farming to diversify his income further. He keeps 10 beehives, six of which are active, producing up to 200 kilograms of honey every three to four months depending on weather conditions. He also rears dairy cows and goats, which provide additional income while supplying manure used to enrich soil fertility on the farm.
Although he has access to water from a drilled source, Kwambai said he has not fully adopted irrigation, noting that expanding irrigation would significantly improve productivity during prolonged dry spells. He identified marketing as another challenge facing farmers, saying coffee growers benefit from cooperative marketing structures while avocado farmers largely depend on brokers because of inadequate storage and cooling facilities.
“We need proper storage and cooling plants to reduce post-harvest losses, especially for avocados, which are highly perishable,” he said, adding that farmers are considering forming cooperatives to strengthen their bargaining power. Kwambai appealed to the county and national governments to subsidize farm inputs and deploy more agricultural extension officers to train farmers on modern production methods, soil testing, and climate-smart agriculture.
He also encouraged young people to embrace agriculture as a business, saying farming can generate sustainable livelihoods when managed professionally. “Even at my age, I am still actively farming and employing young people. Agriculture has great potential if farmers embrace the right crops,” he said.
His experience reflects growing calls for North Rift farmers to diversify into drought-tolerant, high-value enterprises as erratic rainfall and prolonged dry spells continue to undermine conventional maize production. Thousands of maize farmers across the region are experiencing reduced yields because of changing weather patterns, highlighting the risks of relying on a single crop and reinforcing the importance of climate-smart agriculture, improved market access, and enterprise diversification in building resilient farming systems.
