Starting a small farm in Kenya does not always need huge capital. With about 20,000 Ksh, a beginner can test agribusiness, learn the basics and grow slowly from profits.

Step 1: Choose the right farming idea

The best small-scale idea depends on your land size, water and market. Popular options you can start with 20,000 Ksh or less include vegetables like sukuma wiki, spinach or tomatoes on a small plot, and poultry such as a few Kienyeji chickens or improved layers. Focus on one project first so you can manage it well instead of splitting little capital across many ventures.

Step 2: Analyse your land and water

Visit your plot and check soil type, sunlight and drainage. If the land is rented, confirm how long you have the agreement so you do not invest in something you will be forced to leave. For crops, access to water is critical, even if it is just a simple drum and watering can for evening irrigation, while for poultry the key is a dry, well-drained area where you can build a basic house.

Step 3: Budget how to use the 20,000 Ksh

Divide your cash into three main parts: setup, inputs and emergency. Setup includes things like a small poultry house or seedbed, basic tools, and maybe a water drum or tank. Inputs cover seeds or chicks, feeds, manure and simple pest or disease control products, while the emergency portion is a small reserve for unexpected issues, such as sudden disease or a broken tool, so you are not stuck when problems appear.

Step 4: Set up housing or beds

If you choose poultry, build a simple but secure house using timber, iron sheets or off-cuts, making sure the floor is dry, ventilated and easy to clean. For vegetables, prepare raised beds or lines, loosen the soil, add well-decomposed manure and remove weeds and stones so young plants can root easily. Good preparation at this stage reduces later problems with disease, stunted growth and poor yields.

Step 5: Buy quality seeds or chicks

Always buy certified seeds or healthy, vaccinated chicks from trusted suppliers instead of going for the cheapest option. Poor quality seeds or weak chicks will waste your feed, time and space, and usually give low yields or high mortality. If unsure, ask local extension officers, agrovet owners or experienced farmers near you which varieties or breeds do well in your specific area.

Step 6: Follow a daily management routine

Create a simple daily plan that includes tasks like watering, feeding, cleaning and checking for diseases. For vegetables, inspect leaves for pests, water in the morning or evening and remove weeds regularly so they do not compete for nutrients. For poultry, ensure clean water, feed at the right times, keep litter dry and watch for unusual signs like dullness, diarrhoea or reduced feeding so you can act early.

Step 7: Plan where and how to sell

Before harvesting or slaughter time, know exactly who will buy and at what price. Look for customers in your neighbourhood, open-air markets, hotels, eateries, mama mboga stalls, schools or offices, and collect phone numbers so you can inform them early when your products are ready. Small-scale farmers earn better when they sell directly to consumers or small shops instead of relying only on brokers who often pay very low prices.

Step 8: Record everything and reinvest

From the first day, write down every cost and every sale in a simple notebook or spreadsheet. When the cycle ends, calculate if you made a loss or profit and identify where money was wasted, such as excess feed or poor spacing. Use part of the profit to expand slowly, for example by adding more birds, more beds or a small water tank, so your 20,000 Ksh starter farm grows into a larger, more stable agribusiness over time.