Aloha, my name is Walusako Kayinga. I am a second year master’s student in animal science at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
I am running a social entrepreneurship project with 15 smallholder farmers from around the university whereby I provide them with goats, livestock drugs and extension services under a very flexible contract arrangement:
I buy female goats whose parents have twinning history, which I give to the farmers under the arrangement that they will tend for goats to a point where the goats bear their own kids.
When a goat bears twins, I get one and the farmer gets the other. But, when it bears one, the farmer gets the kid. If the farmer is interested, we extend the contract for another 8 month period to the next kidding, only that now the farmer keeps an additional goat and gets an additional goat in return after kidding.
Whenever the farmer wants to sale goats, either I buy them at competitive prices or I link the farmer to a lucrative market that buys the goats as a better price.
Essentially, the project is helping farmers’ households become more resilient to various shocks as the farmers are building a stronger asset base.
Inspecting some of the goats in a participating farmers kraal
At present, I have 39 farmers demanding to join the contract farming arrangement. This signals to me that the project has an enormous potential for growth and that it is meeting rural farmers’ need for viable income generating activities and asset building opportunities.
The main challenge I am facing right now is inadequacy of my resources to grow and meet the farmers demand to participate.
Therefore, the USD 5,000 at stake under the YAP competition can go a long way in helping more smallholder farmers to participate in the project so as to also benefit from increased household incomes and resilience that farmers currently participating in the project are enjoying.
Group photo with some of the farmers participating in the project
In order to maximize the impact of the grant to our venture, the money will be used as follows:
- Buying stocks at USD 2,702
- Drugs at USD 1,352
- Veterinary officer payment at USD 110
- Kraal improvement at USD 336
- Transport at USD 500.
Looking into the future, I am thinking of diversifying the project in two dimensions.
First, I have been requested by a majority of the farmers to introduce piggery as one of the livestock ventures I am financing their households with the arguments that pigs have slightly higher gross margins and produce up to 15 piglets at once, hence having more potential to infuse more income to the farmers as well as the project.
Second, I am planning to establish a medium scale goat and pig processing plant that will serve farmers as a sustainable market for their livestock as well as consumers in western Lilongwe as a source of quality and hygienic meat.
In the spirit of social entrepreneurship, I am planning to have at most 49% of the processing plant owned by smallholder farmers whereas I will own the remaining share of the venture.
Given the difficulties I have so far encountered in trying to access a loan for this venture, winning this competition will form first steps towards actualizing my idea.
Blogpost and picture submitted by Walusako Kayinga (Malawi): kayingawalusako[at]gmail.com
The content, structure and grammar are at the discretion of the author only.
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I like the idea, it seems a lot of small holder farmers will be helped through this.
Thank you Chikumbutso
This is a great idea as it is evidently showing that it has much greater potential to enhance resilience to farmers in times of shocks that affect the poor farmers.
Thank you very much Mr Jere
walusako that is nice project.. my question is which cretelia you are using when selecting the farmers.
Interested farmers are open to register provided they meet contract agreements.
Among the interest, we choose low income households with some labour to tend for the goats, the priority is to the household with no livestock
This is avery brilliant project to alleviate the problems that local farmers are facing in improving their livelihoods and food security due to lack of enterprises and starting capital hence coming of this project will champion the bottlenecks farmers have been facing in improving their health and general livelihoods.
Thanks Mr Ben, the most critical thing to invest in goats is initial stock, so due to this am expecting that most farmers will start keeping goats hence increasing production by number
Thats nice!
Thank you very much Mleeky, lets hold hands and uplift our smallholder farmers
Thats nice
Woooow that’s amazing, but what are you really trying to find out , is it boosting the welfare of the farmers or there is something you want to find out but in course the farmers will be helped as well??
Thanks for your brilliant question. Am not trying to find-out something new since its not an experiment but I am trying to promote goat production through increasing number of goats ownership.
I like this. Setting aside sometime within your busy schedule to implement ideas that will improve other people’s livelihoods. I feel its a ministry on its own. Keep it up
This is great idea, Mr Kayinga. Africa needs such ideas for socio-economic development. I like the word “social entrepreneurship project”. I have discovered that you have got the spirit of giving back to the community and making farmers smile.
Your project idea has taught me a lesson of giving. Big up.
Thank you very much Saikonde for the comment, I believe that if this can extend to many areas we can achieve food and nutrition security
wow!!!!!!!! that’s NYC…… I like it
Thank you Mwaaaa, keep on encouraging me
It’s a good idea for this nation
Thanks Dalitso..Let achieve this together as a nation
wow!! what a brilliant innovative project walu..keep it up, wif these ideas we can make malawi a better place
Thank you Gwaza, looking forward to extend this in all parts of Malawi
This is. Great idea Walusako as its clearly stating the future of your project.
This is very good initiative Mr Walusako Kainga. We have many people in the agriculture sector whose main interest is in crops and a few are in animals. Your choice to do goats especially targeting and sourcing twin bearing goats is incredible 100% good and well appreciated. Its something which really needs some funding in order to support our local farmers. Wishing you all the best Walusako and GO for it
Thank you miss Mtambo, keep on encouraging me and lets develop Malawi together
Well, this is a great idea,helping smallholder farmers in such a way will eventually alleviate poverty levels at household levels and hence boost the economy of the country. Am of the view that this program need to be fully supported and sustained. Thanks
Thank you Buthe for good comments saying that this willl alleviate poverty levels at household level
Well, this project on its own is really great, i am of the view that it should be well suported and sustained as this will utimately help in alleviating poverty levels at household levels and hence boast economy of the country,
This is so innovative! Its a brilliant idea Walusako. Apart from that it has already proven to work, I’m seeing within it a much greater potential of turning around the livelihoods of most livestock farmers. And the direction you are taking, both the first and the second, congrats and all the best as you are implementing them all!
Thanks for the comment Christy, it has real much potential because farmers will even gain knowledge in animal husbandry
Thank you Christy, I hope you can do the same at your home village
big up bro..this is so brilliant..
Thank you Thula, I hope this can increase meat consumption
i like the project… It can sustainably improve smallholder farm household incomes…
Thanks Kenamu, thats very true
Great work Wak
Thank you Tam,,am encouraged
Good initiative walusako. Keep it up.
Thank you Deo
Its a great idea WAlusako
wawoo thats great big i hope it sustainability will help both financial and food aspects as well
Thank you Mr Thebulo, we looking forward to expand this together
This is a very good project Mr. Kayinga. It has the potential to improve people’s livelihoods. Keep it up!
Thank you Mr Msolola, true it will improve the livelihoods
Well,its quite a great thing to do…..will be glad to learn that it materialised.My question is; what measures are there against impatient farmers who may sell the goats prior they produce the offsprings and lie that the goats got stolen or attacked by hynas…
Wow! What a great project! I feel you have taken a right direction….
Thank you Mr Mkwinda,,
Very interesting stuff, particulary because the flexible contract arrangement is effective with smallholder farmers who at times tend to default. Impressive.
THanks THOko…..Its smallholder passion that I have
I love the motive behind the idea, non-the less the project will to greater highest improve the social-economic status of our poor farmers.
My encouragement to you Mr Kayinga is given the opportunity expand the base of the project to other small stocks I.e pigs as you have already suggested given the economic benefits sarounding them.
I love the idea, especially that the project will benefit our poor farmers. The project also has potential for social-economic development let alone address poverty.
Projects meant to address sustainable development goals like this one is a way to go for Malawi.
Thank you Mr Mkandawire, I also see that sustainability
That’s nice Mr. Keep it up!!
Grab the USD 5000 and help the Smallholder Farmer.
Thank you Mr Lee kkkkkkkkkkkkk
keep it up…good work….make use of what you were trained….1
Thank you sir, I feel good when working with animals…we can develop smallholder farmer through livestock as a business
Mr Kayinga i see this project going far and if more people are to invest in such a system i can predict a drop in poverty level of the rural masses since food security is guaranteed. God bless you and your idea. i like it
Thanks Fatima..I believe with all the confidence that this gauranteed food security
Mr Walu, this is quite interesting and on point. The idea is fantabulous. Thumbs up.
Thank you Mr Mfungwe…
Thumbs up Mr Kainga, this is good.
This is nice, a lot of smallholder farmers will benefit from this project.
Thanks Ednae for your interest in smallholder farmers just like myself is
You should really consider the piggery arm. All in all, nice idea.
Thanks Mr Ndalama, Pigs thats where we are going
Mr Walu I like the idea, it has the capacity to develop smallholder farmers. How is the contract livestock industry in Malawi?
Contract livestock farming in Malawi is good though there in need to be careful in who to give the contract. I seen one with SSLLP which gave pigs to the farmers under the contract..some farmers have now advanced while very few gave-up due to mismanagement.
I like the project as it will strengthen the capacity of smallholder farmers sustainable goat production.
Thanks Messiah,,on top of that we wil be training them on how best to manage goats
This is brilliant Walu…what a way to transform the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Thank you Veronica,, am motivated
That’s a brilliant idea. Keep it up for that. Its my prayer God should give you more wisdom so that you must run your project easily
Thanks Vainida for your wise comment
Good project Mr Walusako, I just want to know if you have included any monitoring activities to monitor the farmers performance after the contract has ended
Wonderful question. Yes monitoring will be included because apart from just giving goats , farmers and assistant veterinary officer (AVOs) will be keeping the farm records through which the performance will be drawn at the end.
Mr. This is quite interesting and on point…The idea is fantabulous. Thumbs up
Wooow, that’s nice,,I like it
Keep it up.
Thank you Rachel,
This is awesome stuff! 🙂
i would love to see the dream of opening a meat processing plant materialize. it will radically change the livestock landscape in Malawi. farmers face serious challenges accessing profitable markets in Malawi.
at Kenamu, very true, this can even stabilize the market of goats for farmers
Reblogged this on Edwin Kenamu and commented:
An Experiment with Livestock contract Farming as a social entrepreneurship drive in Malawi. what are your thoughts on this idea? comment on the actual proposal to help the idea get votes. you vote by commenting
This is a very good project and actually needs more support so that it gets to all parts of the country.
Thank you Atusaye, thats my dream too, and I believe it will work
I like your ideas. You are doing extremely well. Keep it up . its nice that you have already started implementing them .most of the farmers will be empowered by your project
Thank you Stuart, I need to expand it more
Great thinking Mr. Kayinga
thanks Fuje King
Wow….this is so impressive,what a massive idea you bringing to the nation,I support you Mr Kayinga
thanks Ackim, you are motivating me
i think you should really consider the monitoring aspect that Lumbani has touched on. especially after the farmer has graduated from the project.
Yes very true, I have already developed the data recording sheets for each farmer through the help of Assistant Vetirenary Officers (AVOs) and frequently visits will be made to the contract farmers. The recording will help us to folow the performance of the goats interms of feed, breeding, diseses , growth etc.
You are doing great man, keep it up, that’s the spirit of an entrepreneur.
Thank you sir, Hoping this to uplift livestock industry in Malawi for the benefit of the farmers
Wow! that’s great bro…I like it!
Thank you Jacob Linde
This is a very good idea…indeed lets hold hands to uplift, the lives of poor smallholder farmers who for so long have been sidelined..l hope this initiative will extend to other parts of the country…..God bless you as you are trying to liberate
the poor frm poverty …
Thanks Maxiwell for the passion of the smallholder farmer. I believe they can make it
I like the idea…sometimes to help somebody is to help them help themselves. This project is exactly doing that and more. Keep that up brother.
I like the idea. Sometimes to help somebody is to help them help themselves. This project is doing that and more. Keep that up brother!
Thank you Joe for you encouragement
nice idea. great effort to poverty alleviation. ndi zanzeru izi
Thank you Fatsani, We can alleviate poverty through this
Interesting, and I think they project will not only expand the economic base of farmers, but in the long run help improve marketability of small stocks that will see our farmers benefiting from the proceeds.
Very true because currently we lack formal markets for goats and pigs which hinders the farmers from getting more profits
That’s what the world needs “Entrepreneurs” All the best Mr Walusako
Thanks Pilirani..entrepreneurship is the way to go in Malawi
That’s what the world needs “Entrepreneurs”. All the best Mr Walusako.
That’s what Malawi needs “Entrepreneurship” Great idea Mr. Walusako
This is a very good initiative Walusako, considering that we are living in a country where many smallholder farmers can not afford these type of livestocks. I think this will give them a chance to gain skills and experience in livestock management. Keep it up. I suggest this should be extended to other smallholder farmers across the country.
Way to go walu
I like the idea! Nice project Mr Kayinga
Thanks Tapiwa
Great idea! Nice project Mr Kayinga
Good stuff… and i like the piggery introduction idea..it’s brilliant.keep it up Mr.kainga
Thanks ,,Piggery thats where we want to venture also.
This is what malawi needs. All the best
Thanks Mr Chimangen for motivating me
This is a really great idea very helpful to the locally farmers indeed and I would imagine the greater impact if this was well funded I mean we are talking of easing the very hunger problem we have.
Thanks Happy, this will real transform smallscale farmers
that’s a nice proposal please go a head
Thanks Dorothy for your recommendation
that’s a nice proposal please go a head Mr Kayinga
Thanks Dorothy for a go ahead
this is an innovative idea bro
Thanks Saduli
nice one
the project is nice..with this kind of thinking we can easily develop..please let me involved in implementation
haha you wil be involved sir,, thanks for your passion
thanks
This is really nice Walu…i like it
Thanks Maria for your encouragement, I hope you will support this during implementation
This is what our farmer needs; a complete package. The soft loan, animal health facilities and close supervision will ensure not only success but sustainability of the project. I will suggest that you add an element of appropriate training particularly on-farm training for sustainability
Thanks Raphiel Banda,,Farmers will be adequately trained to reduce errors of management
Give a farmer money, he will spend it on a bicycle..give him a goat, veterinary services and a close watch, he will educate his children. Walu you are a man
Thats very true Saint,,, lets see farmers educating their children through this project
Timely innovative initiative. Let it be emulated throughout Africa.
Wow!! you are true ,thats our dream
Thats a very good project Walusako.
i maging the whole village benefiting from the project.the end result will be farmers that have higher income levels and better nutritional status.
Thats very true sir,, we want to see this in our smallholder farmers
i like the idea my brother. but how are you going to makesure that this project is sustainable?
This will be sustainable because the goats we get from farmers will be reinvested to another farmer, it also involve government officials( AVOs) who can later continue and the monitoring and trainings that will keep farmers with skills. I see the sustainability
walu. i am very pleased to hear this project idea of trying to promote livestock production among rural smallholder farmers around LUANAR. looking at figures in literature malawi is very behind interms of livestock production when compared with other countries in SADC region. but the good thing is that you have already started this. my question now how do you look at acceptability or the number of farmers that are joining the business with you ist prominsing? another question what are the great challenges these farmers are facing?
thanks your comment madam..As I indicated this, many farmers are interested, there more farmers that want to own atleast a goat. The most challenge that farmers complain is treatment when goats get sick,this is because we lack funds that can enhance us to buy drugs and pay veterinary personnel for service. But I hope through this funding everything will be in place.
Mr kayinga the idea is good and innovative. I like it
Thank you BABA
I like the idea. Wish you all the best
This is a very good project Walu. Wish you all the best
Thanks Mphangera
Brilliant and sustainable ideas Mr Kayinga,more smallholder farmers will be empowered
Thank you very much..farmers will be empowered indeed
i see the piggery introduction will radically change the project
Yes Kenamu..Piggery is the way to go from this..the advantage is that pigs multiply very fast
Brilliant and sustainable project for smallholder farmers, you have my support Mr Kayinga
keep it up sir!
Thanks Jay,,I will keep it very up
if possible, consider expanding the project to other areas please
With the stabilized funding we want to reach to all places in Malawi…because our goal is to empower smallholder farmer ecnomically
is there anything I can do to support the project nonfinancially? Please advise
Haha Yes !! keep on encouraging farmers to venture into livestock as business
have you tried to partner with other institution to see if you canexpand your project?
Yes but the problem is that level of passion differs, so no support from other institution
i think Malawi needs such ideas!
consider the partnerships please… Bring in other stakeholders
Yes sir, we are working on that
Give a smallholder farmer this kind of support, Malawi will never be the same. Mr Walusako, I like the idea.
Thank you Maria..
Nyc project
Thank you very much Victor
Do you have a business plan already for the meat processing plant?
Not yet but we have started with formalizing the market for goats and later we are looking forward to that we should be buying goats from our farmers at a good price and processes it
walu are you planing to expand to areas byond Luanar nearby areas?
Yes Chancy, we want to reach to all farmers in Malawi
Impressive….what are some of the difficulties that the farmers face in this project?
The main challenge is healthy facilities
wow..great n sustainable pj…i like it.
wow thats good. something must happen to help this farmer.
Yes this will help the farmers
Thanks Charity very much
I like the idea and i wish u All the best as You are implementing the project.
This is a great project, scaling it up will be very important looking at the current situation in the country, innovative I ideas like this can really things around economically and socially
Thank you very much,,lets hold hands and implement this together
Its a good idea Mr Walusako Kayinga. Many farmers will benefit from this
great initiative sir… keep up the great work!
this is a great initiative sir…keep up the great work!
I support this project proposal as it aims to improve quality of life among resource constrained households who form majority of Malawi’s population. I am particularly interested because the project will address needs of women and children on a number of fronts. Firstly, goats are scavangers and therefore won’t demand much in feeding requirements, i.e. reducing drudgery among farmers. Goats are relatively highly prolific and easy to keep. secondly, they are a good source of nutrition (meat and milk) for women and children. Expanding this project will improve lives of most poor farmers especially women and children. This project is timely as Malawi is struggling with effects of climate change, inadequate nutrition and poor economic performance. This project is worth funding.
Thank you Tawina, I think you have explained very well on the technical part of the project..you have proved it workable. Those points are very true
I support this innovative project. It is transforming lives of resource constrained farmers who form majority of Malawi’s population. This project is relevant and timely considering its potential to address effects of climate change, inadequate nutrition especially among women and children, and poor economic performance. The technology can easily be scaled up and out. This project is worth funding.
Thank you Tawina for explaining again now interms of benefit.. thanks for your support
Brilliant idea its good that animal production is uplifted to boost our economy
wow, this is great sir, I really love the idea….it has really inspired me…u r doing great sir…excellent work
Thank you Tryvas and am encouraged
This is great
very innovative
Wow this is amazing. Many small holder farmers will be helped through this project. Kudos to you Walusako.
This is what we need as acountry – way to go sir! thumbs up
Wow! That’s a great idea mr kainga.malawi needs such brilliant ideas
Thank you very much
The idea is nice,,can this work with cattle as well because am interested with cattle
I like this idea very much, I think this can also help to improve the livelihoods of our smallholder farmers
Thank you CYnthia
The i dea is good… I think if it can extent, there is hope that it can even employ people
Nice project, I think you better implement it in Nsanje district as well, since cropping has proved to be problematic
Thank you very much,,I think that is very brilliant.. goats can be answers to their crop failure true
keep it up dear, its a good way to go
I am in support of you.
visionary, creative and innovative
wow…..i love the project’s idea of improving lives of farmers, very very good initiative…….keep it up…..i wish you all the best sir.
Nice idea Mr kayinga. My question is, are there any plan if number goats dies in the process.
Thank you Rachel
wow nice one….
Thank you Lusungu
I like the idea Walusako..next time work on goat meat processing plant
How I wish the this project should start at home village.. the idea is resourceful
If you dont expand this then we are killing the livestock industry, please include more livestock species to employ more people.
Very innovative, you understand your field sir!!
I see this project simple but with huge impact interms of food and nutrition security especially to women and children
We real need simple and flexible technologies like this one..worth funding
I second the idea, but are you going to balance gender in terms of farmers?
We are even more interested to work with women as well so 50-50 campaign will apply unless otherwise
I like the idea. We need hardworkers like you!
I would rather join this… am a goat farmer…and the idea is very good
Please consider northern region sir..the idea is very viseable
Please consider northern region Walu..the idea is very viseable
Yes as we have already mentioned in other Reply that reaching to all farmers is our dream
Hunger fighter idea
Thank you Doreen
This is a nice idea by an enterprising young man more especially that it has a direct impact on improving rural livelihoods. we want such projects which can bring results immediately on smallholder farmers.
Thank you sir
Wow! That’s a nice initiative Walu…..
Consider gender balance
Wow! That’s a good initiative Walu.
Animal science with a goal
I am captivated by the diversity part, farmers should learn to never put their eggs in one basket. Diversity is spice to agricultural sustainability……
Very true sir and on top of that, goats doesnt require heavy management
That’s a good idea Walu, it will uplift many smallholder farmers
This idea is the answer to the economic empowement to our poor farmers..more trainings interms of livestock as a business
Thank you very much Team AGRIAC
and again am mesmerised by the economic empowerment of this eye catcher project, the farmer has something out of this…..the calf, either way the farmer is benefiting and also there is assurance of sustainability…..doing things today for tomorrow….
Wow thats a good comment,,I think you got it all
Nice idea but when implementing consider its integration into other disciplinary like environment and crops
THank you
I see increment in meat consumption per capita
This can also alleviate malnutrition cases in Malawi
I second that idea…its a way to go sir
Make sure you purchasing indigenous goats becuse they are the one adapting very well to the mw environment, otherwise this is the right direction.
Thanks , I take the advise sir
This is a farmers bank idea..I like it
AHaah thats true, a farmer keeps money in livestock
I know your interest is for real…this is very innovative to farmers..add me on interested farmer list
Haha! alright
nice idea mr Kayinga
Thanks Laja for supporting my idea
this is a good idea,, I really like it let those in need be helped
Thank you Agness for the passion
nice sir,, I will be part of it to assess the economic part of it during implementation
True sir we will
That’s innovativeness walusako. good work!
This is a very good project Walusako. Alll the best.
Thank you Ezekiel
I hope the farmers will be happy now after selling the goats at a good price this is indeed a good project. All the best
good innovation sir..Worthy to be funded
This is very good sir. remember to promote best farmers during implementationt. this will motivate other farmers to work hard
Nice idea sir..it will work
That’s wonderful.ambitions and wish ur dream come true brother. Am.inspired by ur determination to make a difference in livestock farming improvement
Walu, This is a good development for the farmers …i like it..keep it up!!!
Thats nice and encouraging I hope the project will help the farmers deal with most of their problems coz livestock is a big treasure. Well done Walusako all the best may all donors willing to support come forward and fund the project
Great idea and productive work, I wish most young people could think like you… Am really proud of you….
Contract farming is best and way to go for Malawi. Our poor resource farmers will benefit from the programme for sure.
Despite the known advantages that livestock contribute to farming household’s food security and income, livestock production has lagged behind for a number of reasons including lack of purchasing power among the resource-constrained households. In this regard, you idea is relevant and realistic in revamping the sector. Good luck as you make a substantial contribution to the local community and, in turn, to the national economy.