Su Kahumbu-Stephanou by Jerry Riley
‘Passion’ would not be an unlikely suggestion as an additional title for Su Kahumbu-Stephanou. She lives it on the five-acre farm that is her home in Karen, half an hour’s drive from Nairobi’s CBD. Passion is what drives Su in her work as a social entrepreneur and in her life as an organic farmer. It’s illustrated in her body language, which is probably the reason why even the animals on her farm, get excited around her. Su has been an enthusiastic champion of organic agriculture for the last 14 years, as well as a producer and retailer of organically grown products through her company, Green Dreams Ltd.
Su’s unique attribute is her generosity. Instead of using her innovations to promote her own business, she shares them with other farmers. Why? Her response is deep, and ropes in her brother Dominic, who makes bio digesters for small scale farmers, and her sister Paula, a wildlife conservationist. “I think it has to do with our mother,” says Su. “She raised us to be people who are so prepared to give and happy to do so. That’s what drives us … I suppose it’s much more valuable when you are getting feedback from people you are interacting with, who are unable to do it themselves, actually appreciating and saying that it’s great how you can unlock doors and bottlenecks to make things happen. It still beats me how some people figure it should always be about money.” That is what Su believes the youth should emulate. “It helps if you have money because it is a lot more difficult if you don’t. But if you are passionate about what you are doing; if you are dedicated to what you are doing, it doesn’t matter if you don’t have money because you can still succeed by networking with people who have the same passion.”
Su Kahumbu-Stephanou by Jerry Riley
Many of Su’s ideas, implemented exclusively by networking aggressively with like minded people, including former Safaricom CEO, Michael Joseph, are anchored on using mobile phone technology to broadcast information to small-scale farmers in Kenya. Among her innovations is the highly commended mobile phone application iCow, which is still under development. The application helps livestock farmers track the estrous cycles of their cowsand was awarded first prize in the inaugural Apps4Africa Competition 2010. It reminds farmers of important periods in their animals’ gestation by triggering a voice prompt detailing required steps, based on given insemination dates. Su came up with the idea after noting that farmers often forgot to stop milking pregnant cows as is appropriate to safeguard the health of the animals. iCow was developed as a dairy farmer’s companion. Su explains: “I have been talking to farmers and veterinary officers and other stakeholders in the industry. They want a lot more features. Large scale farmers want us to put in more about feed management and AI services for cows. Small scale farmers want more information on calves and how to deal with diseases affecting them. The veterinary department wants us to put in vaccination programmes and the ministry wants to send alerts to farmers.” Apps4Africa seeks to “leverage the power of digital technology to make a better world.” In particular, it promotes innovations that address community challenges. Her work as a social entrepreneur has earned Su a place as a TED Fellow. Recently, she was one of the 12 TED fellows worldwide, invited to attend a conference in New Orleans, USA.
Su Kahumbu-Stephanou by Jerry Riley
Su’s journey into organics however, started coincidentally in 1997. After a trip to South Africa she came back to Kenya with an idea to invest in hydroponics – technology which enables the growing of crops without soil and achieves high yields in small spaces. She thought the idea would be beneficial for high density areas and decided to experiment. It failed “abysmally” because Su had no training in agriculture. Su thought she’d be better off planting the seedlings she had left over using drip irrigation. The lettuce they planted did so well that she had to find a market. “My passion then had more to do with how to get people to buy things. So we introduced a little brand and a little label, and took them to the market and people started buying these things very quickly.” Soon there was need to grow more crops, and one day, as she sprayed a pesticide called DimethoateTM over tomatoes her mother, standing downwind, became “very violently ill”. That opened her eyes to the dangers of chemicals in food. “I made a 180 degree turn in my mind as to what we had to do then. I started learning how to do the opposite, which was organic production.”
Su has since been involved in work aimed at promoting organic farming. This includes the distribution of information to farmers nationally through print and radio, as well as on the Internet; in a programme funded by the Biovision Foundation (www.infonet-biovision.org) who have also have recently launched an initiative called the Farmer Communication Program. The ultimate goal is to so the same with mobile phone technology. Su has ridden on passion to sustain her energy in promoting organic agriculture. It has driven her to use every available opportunity to understand organic farming. Her advice to young people is pegged on the value of first discovering one’s interest, and thereafter going out to understand it. “Seek information and learn.”
A very motivating story about Su’s passion for organic farming and prowess of networking with the shakers and movers of the information industry. The Biovision Farmer Communication Programme has a friend and supporter in you. Keep up with the great work!
Su is a selfless power house,a nourishment to our society in need.
Am so proud of my cousin and am particularly tickled that she actually isn’t an agricultural specialist. I am a believer of organic farming and after reading her story am inspired to get active. When i am in Karen i am definitely going for lessons. I feel truly blessed to have such privileged access and praying that Su’s passion drive and fire carries onto Blaze for generations to come.
This motivating story has crossed boarders, keep up the good work. Tanzania is getting inspired to go organic.
Its very inspiring that we,ve such selfless children of mother earth trying to heal our beloved blue planet back to her originality.We are a group of fruitarians from allover the world trying to establish a fruitarian community in Tharaka.We highly wellcome any expert advice and seed donation.We would be glad to link up with like minded individuals and organisations.
Very impressive story. An awesome example of a will to achieve what seems impossible. Most importantly, you are an inspiration to many..keep up the good work!
I have been a keen follower of Su’s progress in the area i myself want to venture into. Indeed an innovative woman and I am happy to know there is someone we can share things with as i am indeed a very ‘green’ farmer – new that is!