Lilian Bisase: Farming in a Digital Landscape 

It’s no secret that Kenya is a land of milk and honey. With our diverse geography and landscape, conducive climate and rich soils, an assortment of farming practices can take place in almost every corner of the country. Still, farming as an occupation has previously been believed to be a lower-level career that is indicative of poverty. This was a belief Lilian Bisase held in her formative years. Having grown up in the lush green lands of Kisii, she was aware her hometown was among the best for crop growth. However, the financial returns on farming inflicted more pain than joy. 

When she decided to pursue a BSc in Range Management at the University of Nairobi, the career she was navigating towards wasn’t clear-cut. But she had a positive outlook on the lessons she’d learn along the way. This was ultimately a fundamental personality trait that would usher her to new avenues. 

Seeing Farming From a Different Lens 

After she’d graduated, she got a Customer Representative job and was posted in Eldoret. A proactive person by nature, Lilian decided to move to the Rift Valley city ahead of the day she was expected to report to work. She then reached out to a relative who she’d heard was managing a farm. The decision proved necessary when Lilian not only reconnected with a distant aunt, but also visited the farm she’d only heard about in other conversations with family. To her surprise, this farm was shaped up and a fully-fledged profitable business – contrary to what she’d witnessed growing up. 

Intrigued, Lilian probed and learned that farming was about technique and strategy. This spurred her into farming, and she was determined to set the right processes in place to build a successful and profitable venture. 

With the knowledge she had on farming, Lilian split her time between her full-time job and farming on the side. She put into effect the knowledge she had on farming and focused on Irish potatoes and other vegetables. It was a good pastime that allowed her to do meaningful work. She continued learning as she continued with the cycle of planting, tending to and harvesting her produce. 

Physical Setbacks, Digital Advancements 

When the country was forced into lockdown in 2020, Lilian began to see an interest among Kenyans in taking up farming. Some even looking to set up kitchen gardens, to others thinking of making use of larger hectares of land. She too was among the cohort of citizens interested in diving into this agri-world. Because, after all, food was still an essential item nationally.  Kenyans were also keen to save on costs by growing their own vegetables and relying on their livestock. 

At the time, Lilian had also banded together with three friends to buy land with the intention of farming. Despite her enthusiasm to get started, there was just one problem: resources on best farming practices and agribusiness strategies were unavailable. At least not information that was created with Kenyans in mind. She decided to add an education facet to her new initiative.  

This propelled Lilian to start a YouTube channel which she named ‘Farm with Bisase’. The platform’s aim was clear: to take Kenyans on a learning journey by creating audio-visual content on farming and to share her own farming journey. 

The Progress Continues 

In the years since, Lilian has continued to build her skills as a farmer and agricultural educator. She has now seen and understood that while food is the backbone of the economy, farming can reap exceptional profits with adequate information and support. And more rural farmers can be empowered through information that allows them to diversify their focus. 

Over time, Farm with Bisase has progressed to address food security and be among the drivers of rural development. From this Lilian has received endless opportunities within the agricultural space, both in Kenya and Africa. 

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