Caroline Jonathan

I am the Founder and Managing Director of Mara Farms, a small commercial farming enterprise dedicated to reinforcing food security in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) of Ukambani in the Lower Eastern Region of Kenya. With over 4 years of experience in agribusiness, I specifically focus on high-yield vegetables that work well in our region including coriander, capsicum, kales, spinach and tomatoes. Currently, I operate on a 2-acre land using irrigation mostly relying on rain water and borehole water during the dry season. My main target markets now are local wholesale and retail buyers, with the vision of penetrating export markets in the next 2 or 3 years as we continue to grow.

Agriculture is not only a key part of ensuring endless supply of food in drought prone areas, but it is also a main contributor to climate sustainability, global development, and a key player in reducing drug substance disorders. In my country, Kenya, agriculture is helping save the lives of unemployed youth who resort to drugs because they find themselves idling around every day. We have a popular and cheap drug called Khat (Muguka) which goes for as low as 50 cent USD a scoop. Running a successful farm that continues growing each day continues helping the youth who want to put that life behind them and open new chapters in their lives. Having a borehole too in the long run helps support the surrounding community with clean and consumable water.

My main goal is to transition from traditional vegetable farming to modern farming to increase productivity, maximize organic farming using organic seeds to fertilizers and pest control, promote food sustainability and reduce carbon footprint. Impacting on the lives of my community from the youth that are perishing due to Khat and other drugs, and providing clean and stable supply of water is above all wholly rewarding.