YAP Proposal #28: “Climate Resilient Livestock” (Victor Mutunga Muli, Kenya)

I am Victor Mutunga Muli. I am a 34 year old male accounting professional and agribusiness entrepreneur in Kenya.

My passion in agribusiness is solely driven by my desire to be self-employed due to the high rate of unemployment in my country and also create employment. This has compelled me to establish an agribusiness under the names Vicon Farm dealing with kienyeji (local) chickens, rabbits and pig rearing that will ensure a better life for me and my community in Kenya. Have started this, by establishing a fully operational poultry house that can accommodate 200 local (kienyeji) breed chickens, 12 rabbit cages able to accommodate 48 rabbits and a pig house which can accommodate 6 pigs .My initial capital was $1,000.00 from my personal savings.

My farm is majoring on kienyeji (local) chickens, rabbits and pigs farming as its unique features due to their low maintenance cost and uprising demand for them plus their products. For the initial start I purchased 20 chickens in June 2015, 20 rabbits in December 2015 and have booked 3 two month`s old piglets which will be ready by the end of March 2016. My target markets are the local farmers market, fellow small farmers and the community within the radius of the production site (home).

Kienyeji chickens
From my initial 20 kienyeji layers which I acquired being two weeks old @$2 each, Have started getting a supply of 10 fertilized eggs per day thus 300 eggs per month for hatching. Meaning 300 chickens when hatched. For my farm, I shall retain 100 in the first 2months due to capacity then sell (at a cheaper cost @ $1 instead of $2 for two weeks old), and sell the remaining chicken to the local community). After 4-6 months of intense feeding, my chicken shall be ready for market at $10 each and since I produce and hatch per month, this is continuous business cash inflow.

Rabbits
From the initial 20 rabbits am currently breeding to increase my numbers up to at least 45 before I start selling one month old young ones @$2 each to small farmers and the fully grown ones at 4 months @$4 per kilogram live weight for meat to local markets, supermarkets and the community. I expect the rabbits business to pick very fast due to the current high demand of white meat consumption for they are the best white meat source per the market statistics. This will provide me with the needed cash inflow to successful and profitably run the agribusiness.

Pigs
As of March 2016, the farm will acquire the 3 piglets already booked and start the breeding process after another 3 month to increase its numbers. After 6 months, I will start generating more cash inflow from pigs by selling @$4 per kilogram of live weight to local butcheries, supermarkets and the farmers choice(pig processing firm).At the same time the farm will also be able to sell piglets to other farmers producing more cash inflow.

About my project

The biggest challenge foreseen so far is lack of sufficient capital making me outsource, transportation that would prompt me acquire a means with improved production. In doing this, I shall be self-reliant and employed. My work has started supporting the community by providing training platform, stocks and market linkage. All this leading to self-sustenance of the farmers and thus better life.

With my finance and agricultural background advantage, I request for funding of my venture to expand and commercialize for the ultimate success of the agribusiness. Currently I am using social media to create awareness and market to raise the capital but low stock numbers are making me make less sales thus low income being accrued, most of which used in consequent productions. My dream not forth coming but when granted, it is valid.

For the $5000 grant, installing two 10,000 capacity water tanks shall cost $1,000.00, fencing the site and installing a solar system shall cost $1,000.00, expanding housing infrastructure $1,000.00, poultry, rabbit and pig stock acquisition shall cost $500.00 and feeds manufacturing hydroponic system costing $500.00.As of April 2016, water tanks, fencing, solar system and housing infrastructure can be put in place then in May, the feeds manufacturing hydroponic system and stocks acquisition can be done. The farm commercial operations can commence in June 2016 officially.

Blogpost and pictures submitted by Victor Mutunga Muli (Kenya) – vmmuli(at)gmail.com

The content, structure and grammar is at the discretion of the author only.

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