Catherine Njoki, an agribusiness trader in Busia County, has established a successful career in pig farming, one of the most profitable agribusinesses.
The farmer revealed she started pig farming with 10 pigs that cost her Sh10,000 each. She kept growing the herd with time to over 100 pigs, thanks to a ready market at Farmers Choice Company.
One of her most remarkable moments was in 2022 when she sold 30 pigs to Farmers Choice at Sh25,000 each, making Sh750,000.
Njoki says pig farming is profitable as the animals are easy to manage and their demand in the market is high.
“Pigs are easier to maintain as they practically feed on nearly anything, including kitchen garbage, roughage, and agricultural waste, hence providing the much-needed relief when it comes to feeding costs. The other advantage is that pig farming has a high return on investment (ROI),” said Njoki.
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She explains that the journey to a profitable pig farming starts with breed selection. According to her, the most profitable breeds in Kenya include Large White, Duroc, Landrace, Hampshire, and Yorkshires.
“Breed selection is the main factor one needs to consider before engaging in pig farming. There are several pig breeds suitable for commercial pig farming in Kenya. These include both local and hybrid breeds. When choosing the appropriate pig breeds, go for those that are great for farrowing, as they will reproduce healthy piglets,” she says.
Farmers should also be keen on proper housing structure, market analysis, and the type of pig feed. With skills in feed formulation, Njoki produces pig feeds that she sells to other pig farmers struggling to get feed for their animals.
According to her, one of the major challenges in the venture is caring for newborn piglets.
“Trimming piglets’ teeth is very essential to prevent them from injuring the udder as doing so may lead to infections. Piglets are born with very sharp teeth, which may in turn cause pain to the mother. The mother may, in turn, refuse to suckle the piglets, which would compromise their health,” she explained.
She advises Kenyans especially women to take up the venture to earn a living.
