Youngster makes money selling orchids

By JAMES GUMUNO
ORCHID farming is now an income source for a young man in Enga where other cash crops like coffee do not grow.
While many people ignore orchid plants as just flower, for 23-year-old Seth Kundalin, the plant is precious to him.
Kundalin who comes from Kusi village loves orchids and has been planting different varieties since 2010.
He cultivates orchids and grows them around his house because they flower in different shapes and sizes.
He did not realise that there was value in the plants until he saw some people selling flower pots during the Enga cultural show.
“I only love their flowers decorating my house which also attracts different birds,” he said.
Kundalin said that in 2015, he made a small fence around the back of his house and grew different species in empty paint tins or water containers to sell.
He said that many of his tribesmen came around and admired his flowers and ended up buying the orchids at K20 a pot. “Sometimes, I take them to Enga show and sell them for K20 to K30 and I usually make good money between K160 and K240,” he said.
Kundalin said his annual income from the sales is around K1000. He saved some of that money for his school fees and rest he used to buy things for his wife and house. He now grows 20 different species, including the one on the Enga provincial flag.
He plans to expand the garden to include many rare varieties found in the bush.