After serving and working in community development and more specifically in youth economic empowerment programs for quite some time, my direction has become further defined. This arose after I attended a training event for President Obama’s program known as Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) from November 2015 to February 2016.
The training helped me to not only gain deep understanding of entrepreneurship but also to swing into action. It pushed me to think deeply and ask myself what opportunities I have within my sphere.
I have initiated training for many youth in entrepreneurship and, being a leader in several youth groups, I evaluated my life and passion. After rewriting my mission, I found my area of interest and passion. It is an area that I have overlooked for my many years despite the fact that my father taught and exposed me to a lot of it. It is the field of agribusiness.
My name is Collins K. Togom from Kajiado County, Kenya, age 30 years. I am a graduate in community development and currently working with a non-governmental organization that focuses on community empowerment and especially youth programs. As a youth I believe in creating solutions to the challenges facing us, and therefore I believe that the next stage of revolutionaries and world billionaires arise from agribusiness.
I believe that agribusiness is a major solution to the youth unemployment rate and creates reliable opportunities as opposed to many farmers who practice traditional farming methods.
After going to school and attaining university education, most youth do not consider agribusiness as an option that can solve the many challenges of unemployment. This can either be looked at in the perspective of the education system or the societal perception that white collar jobs are the best. However, after searching for jobs for quite some time without immediate success, their hopes are dashed. This is where some begin to ponder about agribusiness, which was never an option to them before.
The story above describes me and my views. I had never thought agribusiness would be one of the areas of interest to me. Now I can confidently say that I have totally identified where my passion was hidden for a long time.
I have started a business now legally registered as “Agri-Poultry Farming (APF)” with a focus on agribusiness and more specifically in poultry farming and agribusiness of watermelons and onions. My project is focused on two areas. The first is poultry farming.
The community produces a lot of eggs, but a lot of chicks die or are not produced because of the low rate of production by the hens. I have noted the community’s need of incubation and am initiating a project dubbed “Egg Incubation Services (EIS)”. EIS will provide egg incubation services to the community. The community will bring their eggs for incubation at the center at a cost while the center will focus on incubation and rearing of indigenous poultry otherwise called “Kienyeji.” Kienyeji are improved in two types: KARI Kienyeji and Kuroiler, which require little feed, are resistant to diseases and have economic value.
The second focus area is agribusiness. I have set up land ready to plant watermelons. The land is 1 acre in area and the cost of acquiring it was huge, however I am determined to overcome all the challenges that come along. The poultry house is built on the farm and the poultry waste products (droppings) will be used as manure for farming.
This is a realistic project as it addresses the real issues that I recognize in the community. As indicated by a community member, I have to overcome the challenge of getting quality indigenous or Kienyeji chickens, fertilized eggs and engagement in agribusiness that produces the other necessary and key products, including but not limited to onions, tomatoes, watermelons and vegetables.
The sustainability aspect is cultivated from within the community through production and supply of eggs, as the center will supply the chicks and chickens at affordable cost targeting the empowerment of youth and women groups. I also intend to ensure flexibility in the poultry house I have constructed so as not just to sell chicks but to also rear them to produce eggs, and to train the youth and women groups in chicken rearing.
One of the key things that motivates me is to not just impact my community and transform it, but to venture into agribusiness as a powerful tool to address unemployment. I love to see change and transformation not just in myself, but also in my fellow youth and community at large.
My personal gains and the gains of the community will therefore be the economic activity that will allow us to cultivate self-reliance and skills in poultry and agribusiness in a region where land is readily available and accessible and the only challenge is the attitude and perception towards agribusiness. I will be looking forward to engaging and seeing meaningful change in this aspect.
The goals and objectives that will drive me and guide my steps are many, and the key will be committing myself to the challenge and taking personal initiative to ensure its success. Whatever challenges arise I stand to design innovative solutions. The second goal is to integrate poultry farming and agribusiness as a solution to reduce rates of unemployment and address food security. Lastly, I want to make an impact and create a pool of youth agripreneurs in the community with a reliable source of income that make an impact in the community they live in.
As I write, the poultry house that can accommodate 800 chickens at the cost so far of USD $500 is almost ready to go, and I have also purchased the incubator that can produce up to 1,232 chicks in 21 days. I have fenced the land at the cost of USD $300 and am in the process of preparing land for planting watermelons with the help of a farm laborer. Most importantly, I have registered the business name “Agri-Poultry Farming.”
Measurable success to me lies with the reliable supply of eggs from the community, sustainable income and input from the Agri-Poultry Farm, creation of reliable markets and last but not least engagement of youth and women in agribusiness.
Project Budget
Item Quantity Cost/USD Total Cost Time Frame
Water Tanks 2 400 800 April 2016
Incubator Machine 2 1000 200o July 2016
Poultry House 1 1800 1800 August 2016
Eggs 1232 360 July 2016
Website setup 1 40 April 2016
TOTAL 5000
Blogpost and picture submitted by Collins Togom (Nairobi, Kenya) – colkips[at]gmail.com
The content, structure and grammar is at the discretion of the author only.
This post is published as proposal #167 of “YAP” – our “Youth Agripreneur Project”.
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blog.gfar.net 
This is good work. I would like to start poetry firming by the end of the year. I may need some insides from u
Great Job, Agri preneurship is the next Gold Mine, and is going to create next billionaires of Africa.
good work keep it up
Agra-poultry farming the way forward to new era entrepreneurship
Good stuff.
Great job in improving lives of young people.The only way to serve God better is serving humanity.
Good work Collins wish you the best
Goodwork, How do i participate as a youth?.
This is a great idea, it will help us grow our economy and create employment.
Are all this projects take place In kajiado county( as u have stated ) or another county?
Together we can make an impact
Agri-business(farming) is the way to go in today’s life. Its an employment opportunity for our youth and it grows our economy too.
This is a good beginning Collins. I like your project.
All the best.
That’s a great idea for the many unemployed youths
provide cataloques to youth in Rural areas some cannot access internet…good thinking!
This is a goodwork
Thats a nyc job u guyz are doing ,,keep up the good work and development.
I like the project its one of the best actually that can reduce youth Unemploy n it also can involved the whole community
My question is what are the challenges your facing or anticipating to face in the near future and how are you planning to avoid them?
Good work,all the best.
Keep up the good work of changing lives.
Keep up the good work of transforming lives.
Investment into this project is not in vain.
Youth should also look into agribusiness as a worth venture and career line. Its a wide yet untapped area of development
Wonderful Initiative Sir! Its true that many young people graduate from several colleges only for their papers to be locked up in some shelves; NO JOBS! But agribusiness will be the way forward for our young men and will as well improve the economy of the country and later of the Continent. I wish you well Mr. Collins.
This is a very noble idea to elaviate poverty and ensure food security for our country. Keep up am following in your footsteps
It’s really nice project that should be funded
Empowering an individual is a first step in empowering a community. I totally support the project
Hello Collins,
I really like the idea and you have a very realistic goal. I am looking forward to following how far the idea reaches. Mind set changing among the youths really a necessity in my country and Africa as a whole. It is encouraging as well to see that you have something already running. My concern is, how will you manage the common diseases that do affect the poultry farming because I do not see it covered in the proposal budget? Labor costs ??.. are you open for partnerships as well?
What is your long term sustainability plan? How can this business of egg incubation be done as a social enterprise to benefit more people in community? How do you plan to test fertised eggs and those that are not to avoid incubating eggs that were not fertilised? Otherwise It looks a viable youth agribusiness project.
Great job and wish this project all the best.
Wonderful project!! Keep up the great job and good luck!
I wish you all the best!
It is fantastic project, a sure way to poverty eradication and youth empowerment. Go for it Collins.
How do we engage in teaching or training youth in poultry farming?
Good job Collins. All the best!
Reblogged this on sharonkili and commented:
Here is an example of passion at work. I commend you Collins for this project and wish you all the best. 🙂
Go ahead man ,you are one of amazing fruit of Africa thriving for transformation.
Amazing
awesome
Really nice initiative…
Wow congradulations Mr Collins thats a good one
This is one of the unique timely intervention worthy of support to salvage the young generation from absolute poverty
This is a great idea and am well convinced of its success and contributions to the lives of our youths.All the best Collins
Over the years that have known you Collins, the I identity I see on your face is passion for the less fortunate in the society. I like the initiative idea which shows competence in innovation with an aim of transforming lives and empowering the society economically. All the best Collins
This is a great initiative, and is bound to change livelihoods for the better.
Great job Collins. Such a sustainable project for your community. I pray God grants wisdom in every step that you take.
This is really awesome.This is a brilliant project that will impact positively to the community.It reminds me,I watched a similar documentary last week & poultry farming is really great and very few people have invested in it, I will send you the link.You could learn a lot from it.All the best Collins.
Good job Collins solving couple of problems at a time. Employment, nutrition and productivity are essential concerns in Africa. Well done. Hope the community will ripe the fruits of ur effort very soon.
I think this is viable and such noble project.. I believe agriculture will always be our way out of poverty.. success to you my brother Collins and keep up the great endeavor you been chosen for this.
Great initiative, Collins. It is quite encouraging to see young people changing perception towards agribusiness.
Good idea Collins.I like the project..keep the fire lighting!!!
Good idea Collins.I like the project..keep the fire burning!!
Last week, we were discussing with some friends about the opportunity to get an incubator here in CAR seeing the high risk of importing chicks by poultry’s holders! You may be a great resources for us Collins. Great job man, keep the fire burning…
Great job, I would like to join in this and also start an agripoultry farm
Good work Collins.
I wish you all the best.
Great Idea Collins soldier on
Thank you friends, kindly if you forgot to click “LIKE” above please do. I will respond to your questions
I like the initiative you’ve taken to help your community. Keep up the good spirit and buy an even bigger incubator to serve more people.
Hi Collins this is a wonderful idea. It is an eye opener to agripoultry farming. All the best and good luck.
Lydia Mukhongo
Excellent sir, i can smell:) greater success
Inspiring work Collins!
Keep at it Collins. We always thought you would make it big one day…and we still believe you will. Please keep Praxis Fellowship in mind. We hope you will one day be able to give back to the ministry. Blessings on you.
Reblogged this on colkips.
its great mr Collins its realy touching,keep the fire burning
fantastic idea sir,its inspiring
Reblogged this on Tindiret Ko Gaa and commented:
Good project
good
This is a great idea….keep it up….and may the power of God Almighty guide your project…..
It’s really inspiring Collins!
Great work Collins
Great move Collins…the you will never go wrong on improved kienjeji chicken from KARI …all the best
Reblogged this on My Blog.
Thank you friends for your feedback and encouragement.
This is a very good and result oriented initiative. if all the unemployed youths can see the treasure in agri-business, their stories will change. Thanks, well done.
Great work already, Collins. Where can I get an incubator at affordable prices. Please drop me an email
I can direct you to a good place for incubators. lets talk on. colkips@yahoo.com
very great idea that’s an epitome of change to our society and the whole world..youths its time to be independent n solve the crisis issue of unemployment……nice innovation
Great job my brother keep it up
This is a brilliant idea and I support it 100% and still you will do it to your best since it your and person am let always takes to great height.Wishing all the best as you create more job opportunities.
Congratulations! Keep serving!
Hi bro well done great job our doing
Great work Collins,this is worth to support and win.It is making our country a better place by developing it this way
Not only is this a well thought out project, but also you have not waited for a hand out but started with what you have. This is commendable. This project should go far.
Congratulations and all the best in the good work you are doing. This is pretty insightful. I plan to venture into agri-business especially fish and poultry farming. What would you advise youths with the ability but no opportunity to do so-where lack of opportunity in this case is the lack of start-up capital. What are the challenges that you faced in your journey to agri-business? Where exactly did you start as far as financial resource is concerned? i believe this is the most prevalent question to youths who want to venture into this avenue.
Good work
Reblogged this on john5957 and commented:
Great Idea
That’s great news for the young people. Continue creating options for jobs to youths.
Good work brother. I had to read and reread the Proposal. Keep it up.
Great idea..agribusiness is the way to go..
It amazing to see young leaders transform their communities through Agribusiness. Proud of you collins
Good work collins its a good initiative to promote lives of young people
Good work collins its another solution for young people keep it up.
Good work Collins. Sky is the limit. #EmpoweringYoungPeople
This is scaleable and sustainable. Very good project.
Great work.
great work brother, keep it up!
Great project, all the best!