From Struggle to Success: The Rise of a Garlic Millionaire in Meru
In the heart of Buuri sub-county, off the Meru–Nanyuki Road, lies a quiet revolution in Kenya’s farming scene — the story of Samuel Mwenda, a humble farmer who turned a struggling tomato and French beans venture into a million-shilling garlic farming business.
Today, Mwenda earns up to Ksh.1.2 million a year from garlic — a crop that many farmers still underestimate. His story proves that you don’t need vast land or luck to succeed in agribusiness, just knowledge, patience, and the courage to try something different.
Why Garlic? The Turning Point
Like many Kenyan farmers, Mwenda began with tomatoes and French beans, but disease outbreaks and poor markets left him frustrated.
“Tomatoes were too costly to maintain due to pests and diseases. French beans, on the other hand, had a limited market,” he recalls.
In 2003, he took a risk — planting garlic on just a quarter acre after getting a few seeds from a farmer in Timau. That single decision changed everything.
The First Harvest: From Sh.50,000 to a Million-Shilling Revelation
With an initial investment of Ksh.50,000, Mwenda planted 45 kilograms of garlic.
Ten months later, after breaking dormancy and battling pests, he harvested 1,000 kilograms, which he sold at Ksh.260 per kilo — earning Ksh.260,000 in his very first season.
“It was a surprise and a motivation to me. I realized this was the future,” Mwenda says.
Breaking Garlic Dormancy: The Secret Step Many Farmers Miss
Garlic has a natural dormancy period of up to 8 months, meaning it can take a long time to sprout unless properly treated.
Mwenda learned to store seeds in sisal sacks for warmth, which helps break dormancy within 3 to 4 months.
Today, many modern farmers use bio-stimulant hormones, which reduce dormancy to less than a month — allowing for faster germination and earlier harvests.
Soil, Fertilizer, and Crop Care: How to Grow High-Yield Garlic
According to Mwenda and agronomists at Meru University of Science and Technology, garlic thrives under cool conditions with adequate soil moisture during early growth, followed by warm, dry conditions during maturity.
Garlic Farming Guidelines
- Spacing: 10cm between plants, 30cm between rows
- Fertilizers: 100kg of NPK 17:17:17 and 100kg of CAN for top dressing
- Mulching: Helps retain moisture and suppress weeds
- Pest Control: Thrips, rust, and blight are major threats — require targeted pesticides
- Watering: Consistent but moderate; avoid waterlogging
“The larger the clove, the bigger the bulb,” Mwenda explains — a golden rule in garlic farming.
Rotation & Year-Round Income
Mwenda practices crop rotation, planting garlic on half-acre portions twice a year. This helps prevent disease buildup and guarantees steady cash flow throughout the year.
From each half-acre, he harvests about 3,000 kilograms. At Ksh.360 per kilo, that’s roughly Ksh.600,000 per harvest — translating to over Ksh.1.2 million annually from just one acre.
📈 Garlic Market Prices in Kenya
Garlic prices in Kenya fluctuate — but never fall too low.
- High season (May–September): Ksh.300–Ksh.400 per kilo
- Low season (December–January): Around Ksh.200 per kilo
Even during the low season, garlic remains profitable, unlike most perishable crops.
Garlic Seed Preparation: Step-by-Step
If you want to prepare your own garlic seeds like Mwenda, here’s how:
- Dry harvested bulbs in the sun for one month.
- Disinfect using chlorine.
- Wash with organic soap to remove disinfectant residue.
- Prevent mould using organic salt.
- Soak in a bio-stimulant solution for 12 hours to break dormancy.
- Store in a controlled room (20°C) for two weeks.
- Sun dry for 2 days before splitting into cloves ready for planting.
Expert Advice from Agronomists
Dr. Peter Masinde, Head of Agriculture at Meru University, explains:
“Garlic grows well in cool, moist early conditions followed by warm, dry weather. Proper soil testing for nitrogen and phosphorus levels ensures higher yields. Excess nitrogen, however, reduces bulb quality.”
He warns that garlic cloves stored above 25°C may fail to bulb properly when planted — a mistake many new farmers make.
💰 Profit Breakdown (Half Acre Example)
| Item | Estimated Cost (Ksh) |
|---|---|
| Seeds (200kg @ Ksh.200/kg) | 40,000 |
| Fertilizer & Pesticides | 30,000 |
| Labour | 20,000 |
| Irrigation & Miscellaneous | 10,000 |
| Total Cost | 100,000 |
| Expected Yield | 3,000kg @ Ksh.360/kg = Ksh.1,080,000 |
| Net Profit (After Costs) | ≈ Ksh.980,000 |
That’s nearly Ksh.1 million from half an acre — and the reason garlic farming is now being called “Kenya’s silent goldmine.”
🏆 The Secret to Success: Patience, Learning & Persistence
Mwenda’s success wasn’t overnight. He experimented, failed, learned, and improved over 13 years.
“I spray twice or thrice a week depending on pest pressure. Farming is about consistency and care,” he says.
His advice to new farmers:
- Start small, even with a quarter-acre.
- Learn continuously — attend local agricultural training and field days.
- Network with other farmers to share experiences.
- Focus on quality, not just quantity.
Final Word: Why Garlic Farming Could Be Your Next Million-Shilling Idea
Garlic farming in Kenya is one of the few agribusiness ventures that combines low competition, high demand, and year-round profitability.
With proper planning and modern techniques, one acre can yield 4,000–5,000 kilograms, fetching Ksh.1.2–2 million annually.
So, whether you’re a beginner farmer in Nyeri, Eldoret, Nakuru, or Meru, remember this — the next agribusiness success story could be yours.
