From Pigs to Poultry: Isabella Kiplagat’s Secret to Diversified Farming Success

Isabella Kiplagat is a farmer from Koisungur village in Keiyo North, Elgeyo Marakwet County. Living on a quarter-acre plot, she uses the small space to support her family’s financial needs through farming.

While many in her region own large tracts of land, Kiplagat has turned her modest farm into a productive venture since starting her farming journey in 2014.

Rather than relying solely on her husband’s income, who works in Eldoret, the mother of three decided to use her time at home to contribute financially.

“I decided to see what I can do to supplement what I get from my husband,” she explained.

In Elgeyo Marakwet, maize farming is the predominant agricultural activity, but the high altitude limits farmers to just one planting season a year.

For those like Kiplagat, with small plots of land, maize farming isn’t viable. “This is why I opted for mixed farming, which has been more beneficial than focusing solely on maize,” she said.

Kiplagat engages in both livestock and crop farming. She owns two cows and a calf, with each cow producing between 10 and 12 liters of milk daily.

She sells the milk at Ksh 60 per liter, earning her a steady income of at least Ksh 36,000 per month while keeping some milk for her family’s use.

Additionally, she no longer spends money on charcoal or firewood after investing in a biogas system that uses cow waste, reducing her energy costs and contributing to environmental conservation.

Due to her limited land size, Kiplagat doesn’t plan to expand her herd but sells cows when they reproduce to meet her family’s financial needs, including school fees.

She also raises chickens, ensuring a steady supply of eggs and chicken meat for her family, with the surplus sold in the market.

In addition to chickens, Kiplagat raises ducks and geese. The geese serve as a security system, alerting her to strangers or potential dangers, and she occasionally sells them when she has clients.

Pig farming is uncommon in her area, but Kiplagat ventured into it and has successfully sold two pigs, earning a total of Ksh 42,000.

“I sold a mature pig for Ksh 28,500 and a five-month-old piglet for Ksh 13,500, which motivated me to continue rearing pigs,” she explained.

Through her diversified farming activities, Kiplagat earns over Ksh 60,000 monthly.

She encourages women to pursue financial independence by investing in agriculture, emphasizing that significant capital isn’t necessary to start such ventures.