In Summary
- Amadi who exclusively shared his experience with Ghetto Radio says that he decided to turn his six by 12 meters space a garden
- Amadi has planted different varieties of flowers in containers then placed them along the road to utilize the space
As majority of Kibera residents keep on struggling for spaces along roadside to establish business, Timothy Amadi has decided to utilise his small space next to the road for farming.
Amadi who exclusively shared his experience with Ghetto Radio says that he decided to turn his six by 12 meters space a garden of vegetables, flowers and trees which are used for medicinal purposes.
“I acquired this place after a long struggle when Kibera highway was completed. Majority of people thought that like everyone else, I will establish there a small business I however opted to plant flowers, trees which some people usually tell me are medicinal and also Vegetables,” Said Amadi.
Amadi has planted different varieties of flowers in containers then placed them along the road to utilize the space.
“I don’t have enough space, that is why I planted some flowers in Tins then placed them along the road at least to accommodate other plants,” he added.
He use natural methods to keep away pests, drip irrigation to utilise water and also does weeding two time a month.
Amadi uses natural methods in treating his plants from pests and diseases.
“Most of the time I use ash to kill pest on my sukuma wiki and tomatoes sometimes hand picking for those that I can see and rotational planting. Today I pant here sukuma next it will be tomatoes then followed by cowpeas. I don’t like chemicals because they are expensive and sometimes harmful to human body and environment,” he added.
Training center for jobless youths
Amadi’s farm has trained over ten youths who have been hired to work in bigger plantations.
“As you can see my garden is along a highway and through it some people usually pass by driving so when they ask me to work for them, I usually give them one of my friends whom I have trained since I don’t like employment,” he said.
The garden that is situated along Kibera Lang’ata Highway consists of tomatoes, sugarcane, Sukuma wiki, Mwarubaini, Tripochiton tree commonly known as Abachi, eucalyptus and piene tree.
By Jeremick Joe
