Bahati Wetoyi - Our Alumni
AGRICULTURE: MY GAME CHANGER
In the year 2011, Bahati Wetoyi Nelson found himself at Bukura Agricultural College (BAC) by default. Not really understanding what he was going to study since he had not taken agriculture as a subject at the high school level nor dreamt of studying for an agricultural course. “After missing two points to qualify for a government sponsorship for university education in Kenya, I knew that my parents would not be able to afford to pay for a parallel program at the university to pursue a Bachelor of Law degree, to become a lawyer which was my dream career,” said Bahati.
His elder brother Simon Okot, who was by then teaching at BAC, advised him to visit the college’s Dean of Students, Mrs. Roselyne Ambani, for career guidance. He obliged because that was the only available option at hand to pursue tertiary education. Upon visiting the Dean’s office, he had a candid discussion, and she strongly advised him to enrol for a diploma course in agriculture and biotechnology. “That’s the same day I filled in the admission letter and waited for the reporting date in September 2011. I accepted my fate and started my studies seriously. The first semester was not easy; I really struggled to catch up. Those who studied at BAC will tell you what Grade Point Average (GPA) entailed. That monster without studying hard, life at BAC becomes unfavourable and excruciating as a student. I slowly started settling into my studies and maintained a positive trajectory every semester until I graduated with a strong CREDIT after my study period. By the time I was graduating, I had loved agriculture and never regretted settling for it”. said Bahati
BAC being an institution of choice in practical agriculture, Bahati chose to undertake his industrial attachment at the college’s commercial farm. It’s at this farm where everything blossomed for his career, having had an opportunity to put into practice the skills and knowledge acquired in class for the two years’ study. Lady luck came smiling when he was offered an opportunity as an intern in the extension offices at the College commercial farm after his attachment. “Being part of the farm management team under the tutelage of Ms. Violet Kagasi who was then the farm manager and his able assistant Mr. Patrick Chogo gave me an opportunity to learn from the best,” said Bahati.
Being a quick learner and somebody who was always ready to take on new challenges, Bahati left BAC farm in mid-2015 for the private sector armed with agricultural knowledge and relevant skills that the farming world was yearning for. He started by taking short-term contracts on private farms to stabilise them in terms of capacity building and structural improvement for sustainability. Through the short-term contracts, he secured a scholarship opportunity to further his training in agricultural entrepreneurship at the prestigious United States International University (USIU-Africa), where he honed his skills even more, specializing in agribusiness, where he was able to identify existing gaps in the agricultural sector in Kenya, especially in technical support and relevant technology adoption in farming, mainly for small-scale farming. He also established networks with like-minded individuals in the agricultural world.
Armed with the skills, knowledge, and most importantly networks, Bahati ventured into a new territory by registering his own company by the name Demas Management Agricultural Technologies and Advisory Services Limited (DMATAS). The company offers seamless technical and advisory services to the farming communities in Kenya and beyond. It also creates employment opportunities for agricultural graduates. In addition to its core services, DMATAS is committed to providing training programs that equip farmers with the latest agricultural techniques and technologies. Through workshops and field demonstrations, the company ensures that knowledge is effectively shared, enabling farmers to adopt best practices that improve their yields and livelihoods.
“Agriculture is a sector with enormous and infinite opportunities for those willing to explore as long as life exists. No one will get it wrong in the food production industry, said Bahati. In his concluding remarks, Bahati strongly encourages learners interested in agricultural courses to enrol at Bukura Agricultural College, where they will acquire relevant skills that will have a positive impact on the food production and agribusiness industries.
