From A Farm Labourer to a Thriving Entrepreneur

Makueni County in Kenya is part of the country’s arid and semi-arid regions, where insufficient rainfall has long made farming challenging. Born and raised in this harsh environment, Joshua Nzyoka had always dreamed of owning a farm and becoming a successful farmer. However, without formal agricultural training or significant resources, his aspirations were distant. After high school, Joshua began working as a farm labourer, known locally as a “shamba boy.” His duties included planting, weeding, and harvesting crops on irrigation farms, which was physically demanding and mentally taxing. Yet, Joshua’s passion for farming never wavered.

After several years of disciplined saving from his meager earnings, he purchased a small one-acre plot in the Nguu-Masumba ward. With the knowledge and skills he had acquired as a Shamba boy, Joshua started by planting green maize. However, he knew that to achieve real growth, he would need to expand and diversify into more profitable crops like tomatoes and onions, which required substantial capital investments which were beyond his immediate reach.

Joshua’s breakthrough came when he was introduced to the USAID Strategic Partnership Program’s Kenya Small Business Development Center (Kenya SBDC) through one of his customers, Janet Mweu, who recognized the potential of his farm. Janet explained how the SBDC is designed to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and encouraged Joshua to explore the resources available through the program.

After conducting an extensive needs assessment to identify gaps in his business, the Makueni SBDC team started supporting Joshua through business advisory services and training to improve his business. They initiated biweekly visits to his farm for training to help him streamline his operations and provide critical guidance on how to grow his business.

One of the key turning points in Joshua’s journey was developing a savings plan through the guidance of the program’s advisory. With better financial management skills, Joshua was able to reinvest more than Ksh 1.5 million back into his farm, significantly expanding his operations. Today, Joshua Farm has grown from a one-acre plot to a thriving 10-acre enterprise. One acre is now dedicated to onion farming, four acres to tomato cultivation and the rest to maize. With the program’s assistance, Joshua also learned to keep accurate financial records, which has allowed him to track his expenses and cash flow more effectively.

As a result of these efforts, Joshua Farm has flourished. Known for producing high-quality onions and tomatoes, the farm now serves both local and urban markets, and Joshua has emerged as a successful entrepreneur. Beyond his personal success, Joshua’s farm has also become a vital source of employment for the local community. He regularly advises other aspiring farmers and teaches them the best tomato and onion farming practices.

Reflecting on his journey, Joshua credits the USAID Strategic Partnership Program for his success. “The program’s support has been invaluable. Their guidance has helped me expand my business and reach new markets. I now have the knowledge and tools to reinvest wisely, and my farm has grown significantly,” he says.

Joshua’s story represents the broader impact of USAID-supported programs like the USAID Strategic Partnership Program’s Kenya SBDC, which are helping MSMEs in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) overcome several challenges to become sustainable businesses. By providing at no-cost business advisory services on access to resources, training, and financial guidance, these programs are helping MSMEs grow and thrive in regions where economic opportunities are often scarce.

To this extent, the USAID Strategic Partnership Program has supported more than 10,000 MSMEs in six counties (Makueni, Kisumu, Nakuru, Mombasa, Isiolo and Kiambu) to access business advisory services on markets, finance and other business development services. Recognizing the important role MSMEs play as the backbone of the economy, the program is at the forefront of ensuring that these micro, small, and medium enterprises profit from a favourable business environment and thrive.