Success story: Kakamega farmer praises chicken keeping after he made KES 3.4 million Profit from the venture

Andrew Makatiani and his wife on their farm (Courtesy)

Andrew Makatiani, 38, is a successful chicken farmer who founded Lianfam Africa in Musonga village, Lurambi, Kakamega County.

Four years down the line, he did not expect the enterprise to grow as quickly as it has.

Quitting career job for chicken keeping

Makatiani, a business information system specialist, used to make a living composing play scripts for secondary schools before venturing into chicken farming.

However, he was not earning enough to support his family, and there were no readily available business prospects in his field of study.

After earning KES 5,000 from the sale of 25 chicks, he decided to engage in poultry farming.

“When I realized that poultry farming could be lucrative, I put KES 150,000 into it, buying an incubator and a small generator.” That is how Lianfam Africa Ltd was formed.

“When I first started, I didn’t have a lot of expertise or a solid foundation in poultry rearing, but I was eager to learn.” “The simplest part was selling the chicks since there was such a strong demand,” Makatiani recalls, adding that he began his company with 100 chicks and made KES 35,000.

“This endeavour has been a life-changing experience for me.” I have already signed contracts worth more than KES 14 million with the governments of Kakamega and Vihiga counties, as well as other partners.”

“The biggest deal I’ve secured is KES 9 million with the Kakamega County government,” Makatiani says of his one-eighth-acre business enterprise. The firm employs five people and relies on Boda Boda riders and other transporters to deliver the chicks.

Collaboration

The company has also worked with One Acre Fund to distribute chicks to farmers in four counties: Kakamega, Trans Nzoia, Bungoma, and Vihiga.

“During my first year of business, I made a profit of KES 3.4 million; in the second year, the profit margin dropped to KES 2.8 million due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and last year, our average profit increased to KES 4 million, allowing me to import equipment worth KES 1.8 million to boost my business,” the businessman says.

He goes on to say that goodwill, dedication, hard work, and patience, as well as networking with the proper people and having a business strategy, are the keys to his success.

Source: FarmersTrend