Profiles
Juhudi Kilimo is a network of field offices, loan groups, and individual clients who work closely to support and encourage each other’s businesses.
Loan Group: Busara Self-Help Group
Juhudi’s clients support each other through solidarity loan groups and also co-guarantee each other’s loans. The groups form and function independently and are led by client representatives—a chairperson, secretary, and treasurer—but have strong support and oversight from a Juhudi loan officer. Groups meet monthly to make loan repayments, pick up checks, and discuss business challenges and ideas. They are also often a forum for product demonstrations, technical training, internal merry-go-round loans, and any other useful activity.
The Busara Self-Help Group formed in 2008 with over 20 members and nearly the same farmers remain. They meet one morning each month under the shade of a tree on the grounds of one member’s homestead. From a table made from an old piece of wood, the chairperson leads the group in a discussion. The treasurer then carefully records payments, including 20 shillings from any member arriving late. (A missed meeting can cost you as much as 100 shillings.)
Though most speak Kikuyu, they gave themselves a Swahili name meaning Integrity. Their aim was to become dairy farmers and most are on to their second loans from Juhudi. Each have used their loans to add high-yield dairy cows to their farms. As a group they estimate that they produce over 6000 liters a month so they have begun organizing to sell their milk cooperatively. Together, they can purchase a chilling plant, sell in bulk, and negotiate for better prices. Their loan officer John has also been encouraging them to diversify beyond dairy.
Once business is over, the group prays together and shares tea and bread before heading back to work. If one farmer is trying something new, he can definitely expect visitors from the group at his farm before the next meeting.
Microfinance Officer: John Mugai
Loan officers at Juhudi Kilimo typically wear out a pair of work shoes every two months. With an average of 500 clients spread out across a remote farming region, officers spend most of their time en route. A typical day usually includes 1-2 loan meetings, client visits at the farm, and paperwork at the regional office on each end. Out in the field, officers can go only so far by tax van and motorbike before they hit the road on foot and usually down an unmarked dirt road. This is John’s favorite part of the job.
After six months sitting at a desk as an intern in the Nairobi headquarters, he became a loan officer in the Murang’a field office in 2009. His degree was in economics, so he developed agricultural expertise quickly and can now advise farmers on many topics.
With so many clients, it can be a challenge to know them all but through the group meetings he learns about their businesses and challenges. Whether financial or technical, he feels he is solving clients’ problems.
Regional Manager: Nelly Njoki
Like most of the management at Juhudi Kilimo, Nelly started as a loan officer in the field. While Juhudi was still a project within K-Rep Development Agency (KDA) she worked in the three different field offices. She’s developed the Murang’a office over the last five years, becoming Regional Manager in 2008.
Juhudi started the Murang’a office as a pilot project with TechnoServe to finance irrigation equipment for banana farming. The office then expanded to finance other assets and now most loans are for dairy and poultry farming.
Nelly typically works well into evening and comes in most Saturdays but doesn’t find her work stressful. She relishes the independence she has to drive the business and meet the goals of her portfolio. She’s encouraged by the results: farmers growing their businesses from very small projects to large farms.
After several years working with the non-profit KDA, she says the for-profit environment is more responsive and encourages better business practices from loan officers and clients alike.
Client: Ester Njoki Maruba
Ester Maruba and her husband Geoffrey are farmers in Murang’a where Ester is a member of the Busara self-help group. Starting with a 12-month, KES 50,000 loan from Juhudi Kilimo, they expanded their dairy farming operation by adding a high-yield dairy cow that produces over 20 liters of milk per day. Through the loan group, Ester received training on building a zero-grazing unit, preventing livestock diseases, and growing and storing napier grass.
With a second loan from Juhudi for KES 100,000 (paid over 24 months), they purchased a bio-gas plant. Using manure from their dairy cows, the plant will eventually produce enough energy for their home. Geoffrey says they are very grateful to Juhudi and that you won’t find better loan terms anywhere.
