Teso retirees cultivate wealth through organic farming

Retired teachers in Teso, Busia county, are redefining retirement through agriculture, producing organic manure and cultivating avocados for income and sustainability.

Through the Teso Retired Teachers Welfare Association (RTWA), the retirees are promoting organic manure as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to chemical fertilisers.

The initiative reflects a shift in mindset among retirees, who now view retirement as an opportunity for continued productivity and community engagement. On Tuesday, the former teachers underwent training in avocado farming, soil sampling and manure production.

RTWA chairman Jared Eng’ong’o said the association, which began in 2023 with eight members, has grown to 65 active participants and is targeting 160 retirees.

He said the group is establishing a model that reduces reliance on costly farm inputs, promotes environmental conservation, improves soil health and strengthens rural economies through organic farming, cooperative structures and agribusiness.

“Retirement is not a withdrawal from active life, but an opportunity to grow, lead and transform communities,” Eng’ong’o said.

A key focus of the project is grafted Hass avocado cultivation, a high-value crop with strong export potential.

Trainers Collins Otiende and John Kipchumba said the trees mature in two years and can yield up to Sh14,000 annually per tree, with a 50x100 plot accommodating 20 trees and an acre hosting up to 160.

Export markets have already been identified in the United Kingdom, Canada, Qatar and the United States.

Member Mary Emadau urged farmers to utilise locally available materials, including grass cuttings, dry leaves and household organic waste, to produce manure, noting the approach reduces costs and improves soil health.

The association works closely with FIPS Africa, which provides technical support and modern farming techniques through officer Martin Mango.

Beyond farming, RTWA promotes social welfare through regular meetings, emergency funds and group activities such as trips to Mombasa and Rwanda.

Members pay Sh1,000 for registration, contribute Sh500 monthly, and an additional Sh4,850 per month for 10 months towards a medical cover component.