Kennedy Kamusoi is busy making money from his mixed farm at Ebuhando in Emuhaya sub-county in Vihiga County. Kamuso, 40, started farming after quitting employment job, where he says he used to earn peanuts despite hard work. He started with a poultry farming venture 10 years ago, which earned him enough profits to convince him farming can be a viable business. He then bought 12 mature local breeds of chickens (10 hens and two cocks).
Five months later, he was able to raise over 150 chickens which he sold locally at Sh400. “I have maintained a population of 50 mature chickens for breeding which earns me 300,000 shillings after every five months,” he says. He says after tasting the sweet fruits of farming, he opted to introduce other animals to maximise use of his farm.
“I introduced different animals to diversify production. I have pigs, rabbits, dairy cows, dairy goats and even dogs. All ventures are doing well because I have ready market and I’m committed to my work. I do not struggle to look for customers,” says Kamusoi.
Today, Kamusoi produces over 200 mature pigs on his farm every six months for sale, with 21 pigs just about to mature for sale to other farmers or to increase his breeding stock. Apart from poultry, he also keeps about 60 mature rabbits for breeding purposes. Bunnies and rabbit meat are currently in high demand; Kamusoi sells his mature rabbits on order and most of his customers are learning institutions, hotels and women groups.
Each mature rabbit weighing about 2kg sells at Sh2,000 and many people come for them at his farm. Kamusoi says he supplies fresh milk to the whole village as his cows, which give birth at regular intervals are able to supply milk throughout the year. He has four Freshian dairy cows which give him over 40 litres of milk daily.
Unfortunately, the dairy goats venture has not picked up well. Still, Kamusoi has not given up and is talking to other farmers and villagers on the importance of goat milk. Then there the various varieties of dogs. “I have some German Shepherd and Japanese Chiuaua which I breed and sell to those who want to guard their compounds. I sell a five-month-old puppy at Sh20,000. Dog breeding is a good venture and I’m enjoying it,” says Kamusoi. Is that all? Kamusoi smiles.
Apparently, not. “I also rear turkeys for sale at about Sh2,000 each,” he says. To take advantage of all the manure, Kamusoi practises tree seed planting and banana cultivation. He has around 200 stems of tissue bananas from which he sells a bunch at about Sh1,500 locally. Seedling tree vendors from Launda market also buy his seedlings.
To date, Kamusoi has been able to educate his children, buy a vehicle which he uses to transport his farm produce to the market and supplies back to the farm. He has also hired two workers.
“Am more comfortable as a farmer compared to those days I used to do manual jobs in the village,” he says. He says the agriculture he learnt in school and the help he gets from agricultural extension officers in Emuhaya is helping him succeed. “ I enjoy my agri-business and my farming is a well-paying job,” says Kamusoi.