Rabbit rearing is one of the best income generating activities in Kenya. There is an exponential increase in the number of Kenyans investing in rabbit rearing.
During the Bizna Agric forum held on 4th May 2016 at Memorial Park Nairobi, Kenyans received a life changing insight on rabbit rearing opportunities in Kenya by Monica Nyambura Ndun’gu from RABAK (Rabbit Breeders Association of Kenya).
So why rabbit farming?
A number of Kenyans are ignorant of rabbit rearing as an income generating opportunity.
According to Monica Nyambura, most citizens only think of rabbits as pets especially for kids, or others keep them just for leisure. They are unaware of how big rabbit business actually is.
There is a high demand for rabbit meat both in Kenya and globally. This is mostly due to an increase in demand for white meat.
Advantages of rabbit rearing
This is so far the best agribusiness to venture in. There are numerous advantages associated with rabbit rearing. “Rabbit rearing requires minimal labor, limited space and minimal capital to start the business” says Monica. “The profits from the business are quite high, and to add on that, there is ready market for your rabbits!”
Where to find market for rabbits
The first market for rabbits is RABAK (Rabbit Breeders Association of Kenya).
“At RABAK, we buy 1kg of rabbit meat at 400Ksh, where the minimum weight per rabbit is usually 2kgs.” Says Monica. “Weight of rabbit meat is usually its live weight divided by 2”
A rabbit farmer can as well supply rabbit meat to supermarkets, hotels and restaurants, friends, other farmers, and to global markets.
“The demand for rabbit meat is actually enormous!”
Opportunities available in rabbit rearing
There are many opportunities in rabbit rearing including:
- Source of meat
- Source of fertilizer/manure
- Rabbit urine can be used as pesticide (dilute 1litre of urine with 10litres of water.)
- Their skin can be tanned to make leather shoes, belts, bags etc
- Wool/fur can be used to make clothes and mats
- Bio gas from manure
- Rabbits can be kept as pets
- Rabbit fur can sometimes be used as bait in fishing
- Rabbit rearing is a source of job opportunities to those employed to slaughter, maintain, transport rabbits etc.
So how much does one need as startup capital for rearing rabbits?
One rabbit costs 3,500ksh at RABAK, Assuming you buy 10 rabbits in a year (9 females and 1 male) = 35000 ksh
50kg bag of pellets costs 2500, for 10 rabbits in a year = 25,000 ksh
Labour per year = 18,000 ksh
Vet = 3000 ksh
Amount spent on each rabbit’s pellets per day is 2ksh. This is mainly due to the fact that a rabbit consumes only a handful of pellets per day.
In short, total expenses in rearing 10 rabbits in a year is estimated to be 88,200 Ksh.
While income generated from selling 10 rabbits is 201, 600 Ksh.
Profits per year; 201, 600 – 88, 200 = 113,400 per year
From 10 rabits, you spent 88,200ksh per year and earn 113,400ksh profits!
For more information on Rabbit rearing, log on to www.rabak.or.ke
