By Martin Ruto
As you snake along the rough roads of Kosulol Village in Chepareria Division, West Pokot County, your view will be filled with lush green leaves from mango tress, nappier grass covering rolling hills where farms hide amongst the trees.
West Pokot County is a largely rural area, with many working in agriculture. It can be a tough life, but for members of Eco-Pillar Sacco Society Limited, it has become a little easier.
Eco-Pillar Sacco has been a long standing member of Kenya’s cooperative movement and has started along a successful path thanks in part to the supportive services of its members.
Peter Rotino, a member of the Sacco is proud to see how Eco-Pillar has transformed him by helping plant, literally in some senses, little seeds of success.
Rotino was born at Kashelpogh Village; Chepareria Division in West Pokot County in 1959, his early education was at Chepareria Primary School, there after he proceeded to the prestigious Chewoyet Boys National School before joining Mosoriot Teachers Training College in Nandi County.
As a member of 4K Club in high school and subsequently being the patron of the 4k club at Mosoriot Teachers Training College, Mr. Rotino gained a lot of experience in matters concerning farming.
After qualifying as a P1 Teacher, Mr. Rotino was posted to Korellach Primary School. He immediately became a member of Eco-Pillar Savings and Credit Society Limited.
Mr. Rotino borrowed his first loan of Sh200, 000 which enabled him to relocate from his ancestral home of Kashelpogh to Kosulol village in Chepareria Division.
After six years of service as a teacher Mr. Rotino borrowed his second loan of Sh500, 000 at Eco-pillar Sacco which he used to buy two acres of land which he used to plant maize, beans, tomatoes and sweet potatoes.
The experienced teacher and farmer borrowed his third loan of Sh800, 000 which he bought 3 acres of land. He then introduced other plants including mangoes which take about three years to be harvested. The type of mangoes he plants includes crafted and uncrafted mangoes which take 5years to be ready. Mr. Rotino also plants tissue culture banana which includes VH1, VH2 AND F1.
In addition Mr. Rotino has three acres of coffee and 5 grade cows which gives him about 30 litres of milk per day which he supplies to his customers in Chepareria town.
Other plants in Mr. Rotino’s farm include Sunflower, Lemon, Grass, Jack Fruit and Boma Rods Grass.
Mr. Rotino was also among the first farmers to be given bracharia grass species from Brazil. Other farmers from within and outside the County example, Trans-Nzoia and Uasin Gishu visit him to get some seedlings for planting.
Mr. Rotino irrigates his plants through water from the borehole which he dug. Water is pumped to a 10000 litres tank which is used for home usage and farm irrigation especially during the dry season.
The teacher who retired in 2019 also concentrates in poultry farming. Most of Mr. Rotino’s products get easy market at Chepareria Urban Centre, Ortum Market and Kapenguria Municipal Market.
In average Mr. Rotino estimates his yearly profit to be about Sh600, 000. As a great farmer, Mr. Rotino has hosted several farmers in his farm who come to consult on various issues concerning farming.
These yields have enabled him to expand his home by constructing additions and paying for school fees for all of his children.
He attributes much of this to the financial help he was afforded through his Sacco, Eco-Pillar.
The loans he accessed from Eco-Pillar helped Rotino to grow his agribusiness, increase his income and reinvest in Eco-Pillar through savings.
His success has been fairly great and he hopes his children will continue to benefit from his work.
Mr Rotino says he’s become a strong supporter of Saccos and the cooperative movement because he’s seen firsthand how cooperatives can add value to small communities through enhanced financial management and access.
For Mr. Rotino his dream of success started as small seeds in the soil, but has blossomed into income generating crops and dairy farming.
His story is like many other cooperative members whom have all been able to expand their farms, homes and living standards thanks to the improved financial accessibility.
The experienced senior retired head teacher once taught at Korellach primary school in Chepareria, Sigor Mixed Primary School in Pokot Central as School’s Deputy, Tulungwo Primary School also in Pokot Central, Konyao Arid Zone Primary School in Pokot North, Kosulol Primary, Chepkorniswo Primary and Marsitet Primary Schools in Chepareria Division in Pokot South.
Mr. Rotino has served as a BOG member of Kosulol Secondary School and St. Theresa’s Tartar Girls National School. In giving back to the community, Mr. Rotino is currently serving as the treasurer at St. Mathew’s ACK Kosulol Church in Chepareria in Pokot South Sub-County.
Speaking to Sacco Review in his office, the acting Eco-pillar Sacco Chief Executive Officer Mr. Fred Siywat congratulated Rotino for the great initiative he is doing.
Siywat urged other teachers to emulate Rotino by taking loans from Eco-Pillar Sacco.
“Actually Rotino is a retired teacher but not tired in teaching”, Siywat added.
