I am called Evans Kimosop, a.k.a. the ‘Village Boy’ from Kanes Farm located at Eldoret, Kenya. I am 28 years old and was raised by a family that relied on farming to have income for paying school fees and other bills.
Two years ago a group of friends and I wanted to set up a fund to invest in agribusiness start-ups that have challenges accessing credit. The funds were not enough and that was when we concluded that the next frontier is agriculture and we settled on pig farming.
The first step at Kane farm was the knowhow. We started with 2 in-pig sows which farrowed 14 piglets. In total, 12 survived. This was a learning step for us to understanding the feed costs, diseases, and husbandry.
This enabled us to think on how to reduce feeds cost. From the initial stage feed cost us $0.3/kg and now it costs us $0.22/kg, which has improved our margins to 33% with planned reduction of feeding cost through planting of on-farm feeds.
The reason why we set up the pig farm was to address three global issues; food security, unemployment and creation of opportunities that can create wealth. Over the one year we have been in operation, the farm has achieved some milestones including the employment of 2 full time staff and 3 part time staff.
We have also increased our breeder stock of sows from 2 to 14 with other matured pigs valued at $12,000. Thus we are on track to addressing the global challenges mentioned earlier.
Agriculture has been foreseen to be the next game changer with a lot of Agri-tech and funds being set up to finance projects in this sector.
Africa has some of the fastest growing countries in the world, and we envisage that Kanes farm will not only solve the problem of food shortage but also have social impact to the communities through creation of employment and empowerment of other farmers to set up pork farms.
We have mitigated the challenge of the knowledge gap, poor feed quality and lack of improved breeder sows by having in our advisory board a top authority in pork in East Africa (Dr. Mosoti, Mr. Rotich and animal health experts at the farm) and the strategic advisors who have experience in their respective fields.
Additionally, with the help of these advisors we are working on farm feed formulation to improve on the feed quality given that our current supplier do not have feeds for each stage of pig growth. Our sows are being ear tagged to improve our traceability and thus reduce inbreeding.
The USD $5000 will be used to acquire more breeder stock and thus reduce our payback period. It will help us scale up the farm to the level that we can start setting up an abattoir. The abattoir will eventually be a game changer for improved margins and also a step towards the farm setting up a processing plant.
Blogpost and picture submitted by Evans Kimosop (Kenya) – ekibop[at]gmail.com
The content, structure and grammar is at the discretion of the author only.
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This is very outstanding,at 28 years with the level of confidence and commitment to the point others have believed and placed funds is admirable. 33% margin on pigs …wow.I want in too
Thanks Gakuru and more margins to come through
How can I invest funds
Big up Evans! Zero grazing for pigs.Strive for Quality.expansion.innovation.
#Very best Evanspreneur.
Nice project I Need to joint soon
Hello Amos, we would love to work with u in making the project a success
Great job Evans
Thanks Songok
Good to note that a large number of youth are seeing the ever present opportunity in agribusiness. Improve on available funding, diversify and add value for optimal yields.
@Codida if the youths realize that the new cool employer is farming then we could feed the country.
No jobs at the office anymore, it is at farm
Good Job, sir. Keep Going. According to FAO, in 2050 there will be an animal protein food crunch!
The shortage is coming basically because of explosive increase in middle class populations in Africa and Asia
See also: http://greatist.com/health/un-report-insects-food-051613
So Evans you are definitely in the right business. Like they say…. an entrepreneur waits for nobody….. Keep going win or no win and God bless you
Africa has the largest arable land but sadly we still import food from arid countries..why? we need to change and we as the youths lead the forefront on this
by 2050 the world population will hit 2.5B, they all need to eat?
this is a good idea am inspired I believed farming can take us far
Reblogged this on Inspire Me and commented:
Wow, marvelous
Thanks Prof for the support. it is us the youths who will change the future of farming and feed the nation
This is a masterpiece
This is the greatest idea thumbs up Mr. Kimosop
Samson, it is the little steps we make that makes us change the world. one of them is through farming that me and other youths are working towards this.. Thanks
Good move and hope the experts in the field give you all the guide in this venture…Cheers!
This is great when young people take the initiative to solve problems. This is encouraging. Youth turning from job seekers to job creators is fantastic move. I support this.
All the best in your quest Evans! You are headed to the top!
Thanks kenyanentrepreneur . The impact will be felled by the community and country at large.
Good job evans baraka tele in the investment.
This is just great Evans…I admire your work
Great job, Evans! Keep it up.
Great work Evans, we have always been taught that agriculture is the backbone of Kenya’s economy so your project is in tandem with this principle. Keep supporting the economy
Agribusiness is very profitable however keen focus is required for pig farming to be successful. Also having a scalable model like Kanes Farm is well positioned for big success
Thanks SK
We are Kanes farm we are changing the perception that pig farming by doing it clean. our pigs are washed weekly and we they feed on quality feeds and not food waste
sure. great idea Evans
Nice project planning on starting one but i need some pointers.
James. Thanks first was know how. which we all need to have in mind as the basics in any business and farming is important
Bright idea and more so the project is in rural it will change the perception of youth to go smart farming
With next level being setting up more more farms for the community, we envisage the model to be multiplied in other farms thus more employment, more food for the country and in the process create wealth. Thanks for the support
Great Job..You are an inspiration to the kenyan youth
Evans. Congratulations for your great work. Its people like yourself that bring a lot of can do attitutude to the lives of many young people. I hope more 28 year old will join you and more funding will come your way. I will invest in your project. As Africa grows, it will need to provide food- meat specifically for its people. And Kanes Farm will be at the centre of that
Thanks Tim
Its us the youths who will have to change the perception on farming that it is preserve for the old. with the Mckenzie report (2014) stating that 400m youths by year 2030 will need employment it is such projects that can bridge the gap as well us provide food security for the nation and we reduce imports and provide local food
Bright idea Evans. Wish you all the best
Thanks Cyrus. we have proved the model to be scalable
Good work Evans, God bless you sir, I really like your hard work and determination
Great job Evans. Agribusiness is the where we’ll create employment, solve food challenges and create wealth. Kudos for the idea.
Thanks Alfred
we can make it as youths through making a step towards solving global challenges as food security, employment and improving income
Great one there keep it up
I like this iniative. Good job guys.
I like this initiative. Good job guys
nice job well done
nice job..well done
This is fabulous and encouraging.
This is a quality master piece as well as a brilliant idea. Keep the pace going. Something brighter is ahead.
Thanks Elvis for the support, we as youths have a role in play,and one of them is through farming
This is a great initiative.
I am impressed. This is the way to go. Income generation,employment creation,poverty reduction and food security solution. Good work Evans. Be blessed.
Thanks Mare
we are working to making food availability and creating jobs for our youths
Kimosop I appreciate the mathematics you’ve done on the investment. Would like to follow your footsteps very soon. Keep your eyes open for more opportunities .
Thanks Alex
Most farmers fail because they dont do the maths on costs and margins.there is need to run farming as a business and know the costs
Great job Evans. Good to see how the youth are playing their part in job creation and food production
Imelda, it starts with taking the risk and next is putting the idea in to practice which we have been able to achieve in out farm project
Outstanding. Kimosop.
Wishing you the best as I plan to join you
Way to go Evans . Congrats
Way to go Evans. congrats
Good job Evans. I must say I am not surprised. Even in Uni you were always very committed to what you set out to do. Would love to visit your farm.
Thanks Milkah
I have always have the passion in farming, as far as we are employed, farming is with the blood. I would love to use this pig farm project to demonstrate that youths can create employment and provide food for the nation
Such a Great and easy agriculture business project. I like that he has learned on a daily progress and is not afraid to say it.
Good job brother. Farming/agriculture is the only way to liberate our societies from the grappling levels of poverty, malnutrition and food insecurity.. Good project.
Thanks Fanuel for the support
Looking forward to support more other youths in the rural and urban communities set up farms that are sustainable
pretty impressive,self-reliance,the only way we can be helpful to ourselves and humanity,Kanes farm well done.
Thanks Chelawa. we as the youths have a goal to change perception of farming to make this work for all us and feed the nation
congrats Evans …that’s the way to go.you have inspired me
congratulations Evans. This should be the best solution to the perpetual problem of unemployment and food security.
Good and great idea
Excellent work Evans.
It is said, “do not despise the small beginning”
With hard work and consistency, you will achieve your dreams. More so, creating wealth and thus alleviating poverty and ensuring a prosperous society
This is incredible brother, it’s the most useful and most noble employment of man. I look forward to what the future holds for you. Keep it up.
Great work Evans. You are an inspiration to everyone. We need to provide solutions to the unemployment problem and agribusiness has the potential to do this. All the best
Kudos Evans a great inspiration to the youth
I also do pig farming..but the perception of people including my family that pigs are a dirty thing pi s me down completely…I started way back in 2012 when. I was still in form three but I seem to be doing a negative investment..due to lack of feeds my pigs take up to 1 year to be full grown..I sell them at a through away price of 4500ksh..which sometimes suppress the amount I have spend on them.
nice work
Youth should maximize use of their brains by engaging in projects of this nature. A MAN WHO DOES AGRICULTURE IS PURER AND NOBLER
Good job Evans,I agree with you that farming will bring forth the next millionaires in this Africa.
Great idea Evans, the future of the upcoming generation is anchored on self employment just like you did .Bingo!
Great idea..keep on scaling the heights
I feel that I have a call from Jah to join partnership with u great guys, I love u a prosperity and intergrety …So how can I become a member? !
The next generation of wealth youth will be from agricuture
Good work
Good Job bro Evans. Success is on your way. God bless you.
Great job Evans u r inspiration to many youths in in Africa.
Nice and successful idea for you guys. will love to visit
great idea indeed.need to read over and over again
Nice when youths take the steps to make things happen
Outstanding
Great work Evans. Really awesome
My man..cool
This is a wonderful project,we need such projects to enhance our capabilites in unexploited areas.Agriculture has been neglected for a very long time and a mindful person like you should be supported in every way.Congrats boss keep it up.
Kimosop,I admire the entrepreneurial spirit particular in nurturing your agribusiness.Your passion and determination,that has had you nicknamed Pig Farmer,coupled with your expertise and hard work will ensure you get the best profit margins out of this lucrative venture.I wish you all the best.
Hii hapa ni mfano mwema kwa vijana.you are a mentor
Keep up the good work. It demands effort and hard work. Read the world bank report on importance of agriculture in our economy for you to know you are on the right side of history
Keep on keeping on boot farmers choice started this simple
A brilliant idea Kimosop. This will solve issues of unemployment to the youth
Evans congrats for the awsome job you are doing it is a motivation to other young people as myself to stop looking for jobs and create jobs for others
This wil be the largest pic farm in North Kenya. congratulations team behind it
Great job Evans 👍
This is Amazing… you deserve the win, Best wishes
go on..you wil make..agribusiness is the way now in Africa n moresore Kenya
i would like to know more about the pig business Evans,glad that you have gone all the way in making your dream a reality hongera kaka
Good write up and very encouraging story. Indeed agriculture is key in job creation especially to the youths in kenya and africa at large.
Impressive. If the youth can embrace this…then issues of unemployment will be a thing of the past.
kodos!,I don’t know how I have never thought of this
Kanes farm is going to be a successful project that more youths can use as model farm
that’s great mr kimosop keep it up
Great idea Evans go higher so inspiring
Very impressive keep it up. Good Project
good job Evans keep up! cant wait for kane farm to hit the shelves..
Gentlemen, I wish I had a facility for wise comment to impart here. Having none, I make do with commending you on your enterprise. You know better than I its challenges, demands- and rewards.
And how far the horizons you’ve set.
I only wish you the attainment of those hoeizons, and those beyond them.
Great Idea. Agribusiness is the next frontier that can surely solve unemployment problems among the youth and provide food security to our communities. We need to spread the gospel and dispel the notion that agriculture is dirty but a lucrative venture. Agriculture is cool and Evans, you’ve showed the way. Thumbs Up.
wonderful idea Evans go higher so inspiring
Good stuff. All the best!Agribusiness is the way to go.
Good stuff Evans
Great job, keep it up
Great stuff ..working towards a food secure nation.
Great work, keep it up
Great work, quite impressive, keep it up
Great stuff working towards a food secure nation.
Great job, this is really job creation and being self reliant is the best way. This is an enlightenment to the youth.
Great job Kimosop… Determined and committed
Congrats kimosop, our youth should emulate this.
Congrats kimosop, Farming all the way
congrats kips.guys agribusiness is all we depend on in Africa.
Coming from the same locality, i must say Evans has identified a market that has been calling for exploitation…with the kind of profesionalism depicted in plan presentation, Evans i have no doubt you will make…
Great idea.
It is what is needed in this generation, to revolutionize the way agriculture is done.
A very touching initiative at age 28 Evans and the entire Kane’s farm you have done us proud. I admire your initiatives guys. Wish to follow your footsteps.
i remember…..we met near Barclays and you told me that you had bought a pig and your plans to venture into pig farming…….and now……this achievement makes me proud of your efforts ….keep it up my friend
it’s a nice investment bro’s, congratulations. naelekea huko soon to invest eeeh
Take it on men
Congratulations young guys;keep it:
nice project. plus you know your numbers rilly well.
nice project, knowledge of your numbers. … its inspiring
good thoughts for the country continent and the whole world.
Kimosop, this is the way to go. clear way.
love it. congrats
Good work Mr. Kimosop
this is a nice initiative that has a come when we r faces with food shortage..
From our village to global stage. kudos the people behind this idea for showing youths can still lead in farming
Pigs have a very efficient protein convertion ratio. Very good business and very useful to feed mankind.
Great job kimosop
Good job Evans and team. Way to start on the journey to eliminate hunger and create employment. Proud of you. Keep up the good job
congrats kibe. grt job and decision. through hardwork and determination you ill be there. geers.
Great enthusiasm and great strategy. This is what’s needed in today’s Africa;people who dare to make a move.
good work guys. I support your idea kudos
This will make the North rift have the pig farm that other youths can emulate
Congratulations son. you are making us proud and others youths to follow your suit
Good work. need be emulated by other youths and farmers by diversify
Pretty cool stuff…
This needs be replicated n youths be oh the forefront
This is a good project, with a worthy vision and goals.
All the best Evans.
Remarkable work. This is a great and project
Great. Project! Keep it up
Great work ma men
Following this and liking it
This is awesome work done by youths who grew up in village set up and want to change the world through farming
Great work Evans.All the best in your project.
Good work Evans.
The one thing that makes pig farming succesful is PATIENCE…….and you seem to have it.
Keep it going!
A low cost-high margin venture.
I believe the Margins in fact it will be way more .statistics show africa imports pork,work on it village boy and I wish you success
Am inspired by my agemates doing this I hope to start my own next year so any help will be a relief for me.
Keep it up
Great going evans
Its great work from youths great enterpreneural skills the sky is your limit a great motivator you are
Great job!Agribusiness is the next big thing!
gudos Evans thatz the way to go,love it
commendable work
We are going places guys
Congrats kimosop, more youths should emulate this
I like the resilience in searching and driving towards desired results bearing in mind the risks and uncertainties involved. Keep it up.
Good job, great thinking small enterprenures develop to great business people, kudos…keep it up
Brilliant…. Such projects will boost our economy n help in the realisation of vision 2030 thumbs up
good work
This a lucrative n a great project too.we as the youth shld b enterprenuers create employment as apposed to job seeking…..amin the planning stage n any helpful info. from you guys is welkam..kudos.
Nice job Evans great idea God bless you
Its a nice project that you have there. You are an inspiration to the youths. Keep it up.
This project has come so far in such a short time. I am proud of you Evans and team! All the very best.
Thanks all who commented, shared and retweeted about our project. God bless
congrats,the way to go
Its remarkable
nice project,great idea behind great minds kudos this will help in boosting the economy whn it picks up well.i suggest if possible u start your own processing firm where u slaugther the picks and package by your own brands.thnkz
Smart farming can bridge the gap of poverty and unemployment. I admire the concept.
Well done job,Evans an the team!!!!
A NICE VENTURE BRO.AM ALSO IN THE SAME FIELD AND IN A YEARS TIME I HAVE GROWN TO 100 PIGS AND THE PROGRESS IS REAL FAST.IF ANYBODY NEEDS ADVICE CONTACT ME ON 0714790570
Thanks Evans for sharing the pig farming & processing with milestones you have achieved in this farming.
Thanks Evans, where are you located I Endured. I want to start pig farming and I need advice
Eldoret not endured