Leaving a job to venture into business is never an easy decision. Procrastination isccompounded by the imminent struggle that a new business must go through to break even. Yet this is the bold decision that Georgina Chepkoech Rono took.
Georgina, who is a Egerton University graduate, resigned from a job where she earned Sh. 50,000 a month to start dairy farming at Ginah area in Nakuru County. She went on to get more than ten Friesian cows that produced 200 litres per day and made her Sh. 150,000 per month.
“I started farming in 2015 immediately after campus, where I studied Animal Health and Production,” she said in a previous media interview.
“At that time I was employed, but the decision to venture into commercial farming came in 2016 when I resigned to concentrate on intensive farming. I am passionate about animal keeping.”
Chepkoech added that she bought one dairy cow at Sh. 180, 000 to start her business.
She later added three calves at a total cost of Sh. 180,000. These matured and started producing milk.
Each of her cows produced about 20 litres of milk a day. She supplied her milk to hotels within Nakuru town and sold some to area residents through her milk ATM.
“In a day, I make more than Sh. 8,000. If I deduct the cost of labour, water and feeds, I get a profit of more than Sh. 4,000,” she said, noting that she gets to Sh. 150,000 net on good months.
Chepkoech shared that she has become innovative in her farming to beat the rising cost of commercial feed. She makes her own feeds, which also assures her of quality.
“I use my own TMR (total mixed ration) which we do in the farm. We plant Boma Rhodes among other protein concentrates, and in case of any surplus, we sell to our neighbours,” she said.
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“Nakuru weather is favourable for the farming but sometimes it is very cold, affecting milk production. I thus, use my knowledge in animal health and production to solve the situation.”
She has four employees and plans to recruit more as she aims at mechanising her farm.
“I work closely with a veterinary officer to sustain production, and make sure I am up to date with dairy farming information by researching online and attending trade fairs and farmers’ field days,” said Chepkoech.
Despite the success she has enjoyed, Chepkoech acknowledges that quitting a job to venture into her field was one of the boldest decisions she has had to make in her life.
“I bet quitting a job to start your own business takes courage and determination. Some people are so scared of retirement even after they have exhausted their working years,” she says.