After a long hunt for job, I resorted to poultry farming

In a small village of Kambe-mbungoni in Kilifi County, Kelvin Katama is busy attending to his chicken.

Dressed in gumboots, Mr Katama cleans the poultry house, feeds the chicken and arranges the waterers. This is the daily routine for the young farmer.

The 22-year-old logistics and transport management graduate started poultry farming in February this year after looking for a job for two years.

"A lack of employment motivated me to look for something to do. I needed money so I decided to start poultry farming which has worked out for me, "Mr Katama says.

With savings of Sh 2,000,Mr Katama bought 20 chick.

"For the seven months in the business, I have been able to have a total of 200 chicken. 150 are the grade one and 50 are "kienyeji "," the entrepreneur says.

The returns from the venture are encouraging. He earns between Sh45,000 and 50,000 every month.

The rapid growth of the business has fuelled his desire to expand it even further.

“God willing, I will extend the business and have at least 10,000 chickens by the end of next year,” he enthuses.

The entrepreneur supplies eggs to local kiosks in the village. He also sells the chicken for meat after they are fully matured.

"Apart from eggs and meat, I also get manure. I use the manure in my kitchen garden where I grow tomatoes," Mr Katama says.

Although the prospects of his business are looking up, Mr Katama says he faces a number of challenges.

"The prices of feeds are high. The maintenance costs are high too. The poultry have to be provided with good feed so they can grow faster,”" Mr Katama says, adding that for one starting out in the business, expenses include building the poultry house and installing electricity.

Production cost in his small enterprise is about Sh15,000 every month, with a sack of feed going for Sh2,300.

"Chicken are like human beings. They are programmed to their feeding and watering time. If they lack food and water, they are stressed. Also, they need vaccine to prevent them from diseases," Mr Katama says.

Agri-business, he adds, is a field that is promising and he encourages the youth to take “a bold step” and try it out, especially now that white collar jobs have become a mirage.