Punjabi’s from the Punjab region of India, where our Karathing’a Kenyans are descended from, are famous for their farming just like Nyandarua people. Majority of them own huge tracts of land and they use lots of farm machinery. Tractors are like an accessory to a Punjabi, every family has one or more. Punjabi’s are also known for being loud, very loud indeed. Other Indians concluded that due to the roar of the engines of the tractors the Punjabi’s use every day, they are so used to shouting over that roar of the tractor engine, they have lost the ability to tone it down.
True or not, there is one thing the Punjabi’s use their tractors for and I thought it was very smart. Tractors often comes with attachments like plows, harrow and utility trailers. The tractors are not in use on the farm all year round. What the Punjabi’s have done is that they turned one trailer into a comfortable carriage for passenger transportation. It is well cushioned on all sides, has seats just like a Matatu and it is either open or enclosed depending on the weather. They transport families to the market, weddings and even drop kids off to school just like any public transportation.
So, for those in OlKalou who own tractors and keep them parked under a shed until the next plowing season, here is an idea you can use to make money with your tractor all year round. The beauty of a tractor is its ability to “plow” through any kind of roads in any season. This puts you at an advantage over cars, BodaBodas and trucks.
You can introduce round trip transportation for women on market days. Agree on designated pick up stops from deep into the Settlement Scheme all the way into town. You are able to carry people and their luggage along that route and back, a service I am sure will be greatly appreciated as you also make some money.
Also, with children walking long distances to school, you can introduce school transportation where you pick up kids on a certain route and drop them off to their school and pick them up later when school is out. I am sure there are some parents who are willing to pay for that service to save their children the long walks to school sometimes in very bad weather.
You will not know the outcome of an idea until you study it, put it out there and get the consumer response. It may surprise you. It may be the service they had always hoped for but nobody ever offered it. Be the Pioneer.
