Farming is undoubtedly one of the best money making ideas in Kenya as it is a key part of the country’s economy.
Statistics show that agriculture contributes to about 20–33 percent of Kenya’s GDP and employs more than 40 percent of the total population and 70 percent of the rural population.
While some farmers have opted for livestock farming which includes dairy and poultry farming others have witnessed success in crop farming with some crops like dragon fruit, pixie, macadamia, and avocado, among others, demonstrating a high-profit potential.
Antonio Innocent Mudong’i an experienced farmer and poultry expert shares some farming ideas that have made most farmers successful.
Poultry farming
Whether it’s broiler farming, layers farming, indigenous chicken farming, or the hatchery of day-old chicks, Mudong’i says a farmer can make a good amount with good farming practices.
He adds that while poultry farming requires huge capital, especially for layers, it is worthwhile because the moment they start producing, a farmer can earn more than what they invested.
“The moment layers start laying they will give you half of what they are consuming and half of the output. Let’s say the birds are consuming $10,000 a day depending on the number, they will also be giving you $10,000 a day in terms of profit. That is the beauty of layers farming,” he says.
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He further points out the hatchery business as another lucrative yet expensive venture a farmer can start.
According to him, the venture is one of the least explored in the country as it requires a huge capital to start given the expensive machines and setup required.
“The topmost running business in poultry farming is the hatchery business. The production of day-old chicks. But why is it that not everyone is doing it? The venture itself is very expensive to set up. Buying of machines and equipment is very expensive. Getting technicians to set up the whole thing is also very expensive,” he says.
He adds that while the hatchery business is very profitable once it peaks, the payback period can go for up to 5 years.
Dorper Sheep farming
Mudong’i says Dorper sheep farming is very profitable especially when doing the breeding. He advises anyone intending to step into the venture to go for high-breed rams and ewes to make profits faster.
“When you get high breed rams and ewes, you start from a high level. This means your payback period will be shorter than going to get those local sheep and upgrading them,”
“When you have good Dorper sheep, even if they are castrated they fetch more money in the market in terms of kilos,” he says.
He further mentions that Dorper sheep farming is more lucrative when done on free-range adding that zero-grazing requires a lot of feeds.
Dairy Farming
The farmer says the secret to making a kill in dairy farming lies in consistency in production with the right breed, cheap feeds, and quality production.
Goat farming
Just like Dorper sheep farming, Mudong’i advises anyone intending to venture into goat farming to practice free-range especially when the goats are for meat purposes.
“Going for exotic goats to me will not be so much more profitable unless you’re a breeder,” he says.
Pig farming
According to Mudong’i pigs are very easy to keep, as they can feed on anything and still give good results.
