Isaac Kasonde: 22-Year-Old Kenyan Man Who Refused University Education Builds 10 Hectares Farm in Botswana

Wanyoike Mwangi June 1, 2023

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Isaac Kasonde has grabbed attention with his successful 10-hectare farm in Botswana, defying traditional career paths by choosing farming over university education

Kasonde’s understanding parents encouraged him to pursue his farming passion and supported his decision by requesting a detailed proposal and buying him land

Kasonde engages in crop farming like spinach, sukumawiki, and pepper as well as animal husbandry for cows, pigs, and chickens

A 22-year-old Kenyan man has set tongues wagging with his lucrative farm that is set on a 10 hectares piece of land in Botswana.

Kasonde refuses university education

Unlike many students, Isaac Kasonde did not have any plans of going to university once he was done with high school.

“I finished school in 2018 and university was definately not planned: I sat down with my parents and told them that I just wanted to join the family business and they told me to look for something to do. I decided to go into farming and that this was going to be my home now,” he said.

Land in Botswana costs KSh 11 million According to the hardworking farmer, it will cost an aspiring enterprenuer between KSh 11 million and KSh 14 million ($ 80,000 and $100,000) to buy land in Botswana

Kasonde is currently farming crops such as spinach, sukumawiki and and pepper on his farm. He also keeps animals such as cows, pigs and chicken.

In what sounds like very great advice, Kasonde said that an aspiring farmer will need to decide what you want to do first before anything else; whether its animals, plants or both, it should be something that you are willing to die for everyday.

“I have 31 pigs and sell each one for $370 ,” said Kasonde.

Kasonde said back in Kenya they have a very big farm alot where they plant crops like maize and that is what took her to school. “You need to be on top of your game in terms of consistency; when it comes to your game it just depends on you,” he said. When thinking about farming, you should consider seed, fertilizer and labour involved.

In Botswana the government offers its farmers seeds and ploughs their land for them using a tractor.

“Farming is a lot of hard work, sleepless nights, find out what you are wiling to die for,” said Kasonde as a parting shot.