There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.  ~Colin Powell

Dear friend, you’re welcome to the Africa Business Classroom (ABC).

I started my first business before I was a boy of 15. Today I run my company in Lagos and operate in different states of South Africa.

Make sure you read every word of this post and come back to download my 2 free business books HERE

Let’s start this tutorial.

A lot of people want to venture into agriculture business without passing through much stress. If you are looking for an animal farming business in South Africa which can fetch you good cash without much stress, then take a look at Goat Farming Business in South Africa

If you are a lover of goat and you want to enter into the goat rearing business or you are already into this business and looking for new tips on how to improve it , then you’re in the right place .

Goat rearing business is by far among the intensive animal farming business in which a lot of people have embarked on and are testifying of it  income return.

Another amazing thing about goat farming is that anyone in any place can setup this business and soon enough, they will start making  profit from it.

Wait!

After I have spent over a decade in the business world, I discovered 13 Secrets which school did not teach you about how to be rich

Because I want you to become a successful entrepreneur like me, I will reveal the 13 secrets to you. Click Here to download it for free.

…………………………..

Do a lot of people really consume goat meat?

I guess you might be thinking that this is a ridiculous question to ask , but believe me there are a lot of people who might not know, so for their sake let’s discuss this a little .

Aside from cow meat, goat meat is another type of meat widely loved, by many in South Africa. And the reason is because of its unique taste or aroma.

Apart from these, goat meat is highly nutritious because it has more Lean that is; it has low cholesterol which is very good for people who have a preference for low energy diet and most times Doctors do recommend it to some patients .

So permit me to conclude that many South Africans eat goat meat every day and this should drive you to the zeal of starting up your own commercial goat farming in South Africa.

Is Goat Farming Business Profitable in South Africa ?

If I invest into goat farming , how much will be my income flow be? Are you asking this question ?

Let’s make a possible estimation ;

A healthy and well-matured goat could weigh about 100-150 pounds (that is if you want to measure your goats in pounds, most seller uses this method). So, for that pounds, a goat should cost roughly #50,000 or even more . And let’s say you have about 100 goats in your goat farm, you would be selling for about #5,000,000.

Let’s assume that the cost of feeding and labour is even as high as #3,000,000, you could still be making as much as #2,000,000 every year.

(The estimate is as of 2016 and your environment could influence the price, so you have a little marketing research to do in your environment)

Incredible! Right?

So you see, goat farming is a good investment, though no business makes you rich overnight. There’s always a time of little beginning.

How much capital do I need to setup my goat farming business ?

Compared to rearing other livestock, goat farming business requires little or less capital .

You don’t need millions of naira to set up a goat farm, unless if you want to make it larger. But nevertheless , you can set up your goat farming business with not so much amount.

Just bear in mind that you are setting up a commercial goat farming. When you’re in the business, as profits flows in, you can then put in more goats.

Do I need to be an expert before setting up a goat farming in South Africa ?

And the answer to this question is NO! You don’t need to become an expert nor a professional in agriculture to make it in this business. All you need is the passion and determination that will keep you moving forward.

What other byproducts do I gain from goat farming?

As interesting as it might be, the amazing fact about rearing goats is that goat is a multifunctional animal. You don’t only gain from selling your goats as meats, but you can also gain more from some of its byproducts such as milk, fibers, skin, and manure.

I will explain each of this a bit for better understanding.

Goat Milk; though it may not be that popular or widely consumed in South Africa, goat milk can be produced from goat. Goat milk is said to have low cholesterol and it is non-allergic compared to cow milk.

The nutrients in goat milk are said to help in improving appetite and digestive efficiency. It also has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties which can be used for the treatment urinogenital diseases of fungal origin. Other dairy products derived from goat aside milk are yoghurt, cheese, and butter.

Fibers; some breed of goats like the Cashmere and Angora can produce high-quality fibers. These can also be sold for maximum profit.

Hides and skin; every breed of goats produce hides and skin, which can serve or use in the production of leather items. But know that the breed which produces high quality hides and skin are the Black Bengal goats or Kalahari Red goats (can be mostly found in South Africa).

They have thick hides and skin which is not only sold in South Africa but also internationally, and because of it extravagantly quality, their skin has a high demand. If you intend to deal with in goat hides and skin, make a market research about it and know who your buyers are.

Manure; Most farmers love and prefer to use organic manure than using artificial fertilizers to grow their crops. Goat’s faeces are high organic manure (fertilizers) that are used for the rapid growth of farm crops. You as a goat seller can make a good income from these.

What weather condition is suitable for rearing goats in South Africa?

Unlike some livestock farming like chickens , Snails, Fish and the likes, goat is one animal that is never selective of weather condition. And to top it all, South Africa weather is very suitable for rearing goats in any state.

Now we have discussed the considerable factors, let’s move to the main point; How to start goat farming in South Africa.

Goat farming business plan; a good business should have a business plan. These assist you to pinpoint things you should do to improve your goat farm. Alongside, you should have record keeping if need maybe, it should document what has been sold, purchased. To know when you are gaining or losing.

The reason why you are rearing goat; when setting up your goat rearing business, you should determine the main reason why you are rearing goat; are you rearing them for meat, for milk, or for their skin?

Make a market research of the one that has a high demand and will also profit you more and go into it.

Land location; when you want to get a land for your goat farming, select a location that is good for pasture or grazing (just as you would do in cattle farming).

Make sure the land is not far from town or market for easy access. If possible, let there be a market near the farm land, so you can have easy access to get any types of equipments you might need.

Housing; when building a pen for your goat, build one that will shed them from rain and the sun. You can put electricity if need may be. The shed should be well fenced to prevent thief and burglaries. Also, the pen should be clean, should be free from dampness and well it should be well ventilated.

The goat pens should also be free from pest and rodents. You should always use fresh hay or straw for bedding. Initiate activities like introducing toys or so your goats can move around. This also helps in making them healthy and active.

Wait!

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Buying your goat breed

After you have set up the housing (goat pens) for keeping your goat, the next step is to purchase your breed. You should purchase high-quality breed.

Examples of South Africa breeds are;

• Kalahari.
• Red Boer.
• Pygmy.
• Nubian Breed.
• Savanna Buck.
• Boer Goat Ewe etc.

It is recommended that you should buy at least two bucks (male goat) and many does (female goats). This is highly essential. The does give birth to more goats, and these helps in the increase of the numbers of your goat.

You can also purchase Kalahari goats if you want, that is, a combination of different species of goat. Make sure that the goats you are purchasing are in good health and have no sign of diseases.

If you are purchasing a baby goat, make sure that they are properly vaccinated.

Feeding in your goat farm

You can feed your goat any types of crops, corns, and leaves since goats are ruminant’s animals (though like human, they have their different taste, i.e, certain goat may not eat something other goats eat). However, it is advisable that you should have a grazing place so that the cost of feed can be lowered.

There are also specially formulated feeds you can buy in the market; these feeds can make your goat grow faster and big. The little disadvantage of it is that, these feeds can be costly compares to pastures. Sometimes, most farmers do produce their own feed; you can make yours if you can just make sure the feed has about 11%-18% of protein.

Get the Services of a Veterinary doctor; A lot of you might frown on this; you might be asking if rearing goat is easy, why then do I need the service of a veterinary?

Here is the point, I previously wrote that when you are starting up your goat farming business that you should bear in mind that you are setting up a commercial goat farming business. The reason is you will be rearing lots of goats in larger quantity for business.

You don’t want to use your goats for experimenting like those who are rearing two or few goats. With the help of a veterinary, you will know the right nutrient, mineral or medicine that will be administered to your livestock that will maximum your profit and also you can learn new tips from them.

If you want to do it yourself be cautioned that you might lose quite a number of goats in the process.

Goats Maturation; this is the process of goats becoming mature. In goat, puberty age is between six and 12 months (though it can most times vary in breeds. Some breeds maybe more other mat be less. Sometimes, nutrients can also contribute to this. You should note that female goats (doe) go into estrus every 21 days for three to 50 hours.

At this stage, some enough natural mating can begin. But since the advance of technology, some modern farmers practices artificial insemination. It is said that it allocates straight forward entrance to a wide variety of bloodlines.

Marketing your goats; before you fully start your own goat farming, you should make a market research to know how much others are selling in the market so you’ll have a better understanding of goat business in your area and so that you won’t sell your goat below the market price.

Other important things you should know about goat farming in South Africa.

Gestation; this is the period of time kid (baby goats) develops in their mother’s womb. Goats achieve their sexual at the 10-12 month. The overall period of their gestation is 150 (that is from 145-152 days.)

Some common disease to look out for when rearing your goat;

Tapeworm; you will notice symptoms like; Diarrhea, constipation, some part of tapeworm may be seen in the faeces.

Tuberculosis; you will notice difficulty in respiration, coughing, Irregular low-grade fever of long period, loss of body weight and anemia.

Salmonella infection; noticeable symptoms are like loss of weight and low milk production. This disease is mostly caused by using or giving the dirty or contaminated drinking water.

Rinderpest; the symptoms are Ulcerative lesions will appear inside the lower lip and on the gums. There will also be a mild thermal reaction and diarrhea.

Nitrate/nitrite Poisoning; noticeable symptoms include; urine tested positive for nitrate/nitrite, respiratory difficulty staggering gait, the goat blood becomes chocolate brown in color. Most times death might occur.

This diseases listed above are just a few to mention, there are still many of them. These are the more reason why appointing a veterinary is highly recommend.

If your goat farming business is well managed by a good veterinary, your goats will grow healthy and you will gain more than lose.

General signs that show that goats are sick;

• They won’t drink nor eat.
• Kicking or biting their stomach; bloated.
• The will have a green or cloudy nasal discharge.
• Fever (note; a Body temperature above 103.5 indicate fever and a body temperature above 101.5 indicates subnormal temperature)
• Showing symptoms of pain like grinding their teeth
• They have loose feces which indicates diarrhea or problems in their bowel movement
• Having a rapid or slow breathing
• They have a hard time urinating or they suffer pain when urinating
• Pressing their head against fences or walls
• Their eyelids turn gray or pale in color

Some signs that show your goats (doe) are in heat cycle;

The heat period is when a female goat is ready to mate.

• The doe wags her tail.
• The does act bucky or charged; the doe mounts other does in the herd or allows them to mount her back and will stand for mating.
• The doe gets talkative
• The doe urinates often.
• The buck acts goofy or silly; the buck will wag his tongue, slap a front hoof against the ground, urinate on his own face,
• Milk volume changes; she may resist getting on the milk stand and you may get little or no milk from the doe.
• Her tail gets sticky; the tail may become red, swollen, and wet with a gel-like vaginal discharge.
• Some Signs that shows your goat (doe) is pregnant;
• The doe appetite goes up and milk production goes down.
• The doe’s belly tightens.
• The doe’s personality changes; this is caused by a change of hormone and progesterone.
• The buck’s personality changes; the buck may become aggressive toward the bred doe.
• The doe’s udder swells.
• The doe snores; all goats snore but a pregnant doe snore more loudly. With the all we have discussed, you can see that starting a goat farming business in South Africa is quite easy compares to the rearing of other livestock. We wish you a successful goat business

Dear friend

After I have spent more than 10 years in the business world, I discovered 13 Secrets which school did not teach you about how to be rich

Because I want you to become a successful entrepreneur like me, I will reveal the 13 secrets to you. Click Here to download it for free.

…………………………..

Dear friend, you’re welcome to the Africa Business Classroom (ABC).

I started my first business before I was a boy of 15. Today I run my company in Lagos and operate in different states of Nigeria.

Make sure you read every word of this post and come back to download my 2 free business books HERE

Let’s start this tutorial.

……………………….

Broiler production in Kenya is a very popular livestock business in Kenya.  As a part of poultry farming, a lot of people are into broiler farming in Kenya.

So if you have an interest in this business and need a guide or help on how to start it up; you are in the right place and this is a perfect guide is for you.

If after you read this post you have any questions, you can call our company (in the numbers I’ll give you soon).

We can give you the opportunity to visit our associate poultry farm near you, to learn, practically, how to start a profitable broiler production business in Kenya.

In fact, you can invite our experienced poultry farmers to come and work with you, so as to make your broiler farming venture a success.

I’ll soon give you our company’s phone numbers

Continue reading…

A lot of farmers who are into poultry business in Kenya ranging from layers, turkeys and so on, most times prefer to venture broilers poultry farming because is a fast and reliable way of raising poultry meat for human consumption and also at the same time, make a good income from it.

Introduction to Broiler Production in Kenya

In simple stating, of all commercial poultry farming in Kenya, commercial broiler production or broiler poultry farming is the raising or keeping of chickens (broilers) primarily for meat production.

Chickens are easy to raise and as lucrative this business might be, it might be surprising to know that some farmers who venture into broiler production have lost their investment and couldn’t gain from it.

So to add, that the solution to successful broiler production or broilers poultry farming depends on a methodical and efficient management program the farmer has adopted when setting up this business.

Broilers Meat Consumption in Kenya

Broilers meat is mostly loved by all in Kenya. A lot of people who consume this meat do so because of its nice taste, its soft tenderness and nutritive value; it is said to be high in protein and lower in caloric.

Wait!

After I have spent over a decade in the business world, I discovered 13 Secrets which school did not teach you about how to be rich

Because I want you to become a successful entrepreneur like me, I will reveal the 13 secrets to you. Click Here to download it for free.

…………………………..

How to Start a Broiler Production / Farming in Kenya

• Set-up a business plan
• Get trained by experienced farmers
• Get a good location for your poultry farm
• Set-up your broilers’ pen professionally
• Buy the right broiler chicks
• Feed your broiler with the right feeds
• Take care of the brooding stage of poultry
• Care for your birds
• Broilers’ vaccine and vaccinations
• Broiler marketing

(You can get our practical broiler farming training or invite our experienced broiler farming to work with you. Click HERE)

Let’s explain these one after another;

1. Draw or set up a business plan;

A good business needs a plan, write and stipulate in it, your estimated Investment Costs (cost of housing and equipment) cost of the chick or birds your purchased, cost of feeds, cost of electricity, labor, farm rental (if rented) and cost of medication and medication services.

When all this is documented, you can know if you are losing or gaining after selling your chicken.

(If you need help with current broiler business plan, we can do it for you. Click  HERE)

2. Be Trained By an Experienced Poultry Farmer

Anybody without the knowledge or idea of broilers can rear broilers and may succeed in it. But believe me, it will be a trial and error event; Few or several chickens might have died before they get it right.

Since you are setting up a commercial broiler poultry farm in Kenya you wouldn’t want to involve your chicken in this trial and error method that may lead to loss of your investment.

Therefore, it is worthwhile to read, be enlightened and research about broilers production before entering into it. And since broilers are fragile chickens or birds, you should and would want to pamper and handle them with care.

This post would help you to get started, but you definitely need far more than whatever you read on the internet.

You can talk to an expert, a veterinarian, a fellow broiler farmer or visit one of our associate poultry farms near you. Click  HERE if you’ll like to come and learn how to start your broiler farming on our farm.

3. Get a Good Location for Your Broiler Farming

When you are looking for a site or land for rearing your broilers or setting up your broilers production, it should be a land that is near or not far from the market. .

The land should not be located closer to rivers, streams or lake as this may result and expose broiler or chickens to the dangers of floods and can also cause pollution of water by the broilers wastes/feces during raining periods/ season.

When you are looking for a land, you might be looking for one that is a bit far away from the neighborhood because chicken farmers who have been rearing chickens within a neighborhood have had a situation where neighbors have complained about the disturbing odor of chicken smell.

The dispute wasn’t an easy one; it was serious as it led to court settlement.

4. Set Up Your Broiler Pen for Your Broilers Production

Before you purchase your day-old broiler chicks, you should prepare and set up your chicken house or broilers house (call pens)

Chickens or broilers are warm-blooded animals; they have the ability to maintain a rather uniform temperature of their internal organs. Therefore, the house provided for them should have the same uniform temperature with that of the chicken.

Your poultry house should be from east to west position, for wind control and also for enough ventilation. Good water supply and electricity should be provided in the house.

There should be enough spacing for your broilers, determine the number of chicken you want to put per room to prevent suffocation.  The house should be easy to clean and it should be constructed in a way that will ensure protection for broilers from predators and good health for both human and chickens. For Poor housing can lead to the collapse of chickens irrespective of how well you have managed it.

A concrete floor is majorly encouraged because it is easy to clean and it also assists in controlling parasites like mites, which do hide in the soil and causes sore into chicken legs. You should spray sawdust on the floor to maintain a moderate temperature on the floor.

You can as well go for battery cages, for a better broiler production.

Don’t forget you can visit our associate poultry farm to learn, practically, how to start your own broiler farm.

You can even invite our experienced poultry farmers to work with you, so that you won’t lose your investment.

Click Here to get our practical training or invite or experienced poultry farmers to work with you.

5. Broiler Feeding and Watering Equipment

It is suggested that when setting up your broilers pens, you should mechanize the water trough and the feeder. Do not place them on the floor as this could make the ground wet; thus causing the place to smell and the chicken to contact diseases.

Also, if you place the water trough or feeder on the floor, the chickens might defecate on it by this causing the water or feed to be contaminated, which will be unhealthy to the chickens.

6. Purchase the Right Broilers Breed/chicks

when you want to purchase the broilers chicks for broilers production business or broilers poultry farming, there are things you should look at for. Things like;

• You should purchase your broilers chicks from trusted and experienced hatchery.
• The chicks should be a day old chicks weighing between 35-40 grams.
• It should be healthy chicks, with dry fluffy feathers, bright eyes, and alert and active appearance,
• They should be free from diseases or any irregularities (if possible vaccinated before purchased. So, therefore, you should request for a vaccination history when purchasing day old chicks from the suppliers this will assist you to know what was done, not done and where to start.).
• And finally, the chicks should have uniform size and color.

The breeds of broilers differ and have different characteristics. And the preference is different in most broilers farmer. Below are the lists of few broilers breeds;

Red Broilers: they are slow-growing breeds and are more appropriate for outdoor production than fast-growing broilers. It has strong resistance to diseases.

Rosambro Broilers (medium-growth); has the characteristic as the red broilers but grows faster than the red broilers.

Cornish Cross Broilers (fast growth); is extremely fast growing chicken that is processed between six and eight weeks. It is also known as Cornish Rock.

Roaster chicks or Moyer’s Broiler (sometimes called Cornish Giants); they have excellent shape, plump and tender breast meat and good skin texture. They could weigh over 4 lbs. by 6 weeks of age.

Moyer’s K-22 Red Broilers) (the Cockerels Only); is a full-blooded meat bird that has defiant genetics and has well textured with flavorful meat for the consumer who has a preference for less oily meat. Though, this broiler is a slow- growing bird than the Cornish giant with the males growing to a live weight of 5 pounds at around 8 weeks unlike the female.

These breeds listed above are just a few to mention, there are much more types of breeds still available.

7. House Your Day-old Broilers (brooding period);

Broilers chicks are really quite fragile. Thus, they need special care. Below are ways to care for them;

• The chicken pens, surrounding areas, and all equipment must be cleaned and disinfected before the chicks’ arrival.
• You must pre-heat the house where the chicks will stay for a minimum of 24 hours before the arrival of chicks.
• Make sure that there is adequate clean water at room temperature is available for Water is vital in the early stages of the chick’s development.
• Spray a few sawdust on the concrete floor to maintain a warm temperature.
• Make sure that the access to food and water are easy for the chicks. The correct size of feeder and watering trough is to be used.
• Supply sufficient artificial heat (like a lamp) to keep day-old chicks warm during the day and night.
• Let there be good ventilation in the house as this prevents any future respiratory diseases.
• Let there be adequate space in the house as this prevents death and poor growth.
• Prevents and avoid any sudden change of temperature in the house as the chicks may not know how to adapt to this sudden change. The temperature in the room should be as uniform as possible. Temperatures of 350°c are good at the beginning stage then reduce at the rate of 2.80°c per week as they grow. (If possible, let a veterinarian recommend for you, depending on the breeds).
• Dispose of immediately any dead chicks by burning or burying them so as to prevent files, rodents or diseases.

(Note; as your broilers grow you should know when to put them in a grower house)

Wait!

After I have spent over a decade in the business world, I discovered 13 Secrets which school did not teach you about how to be rich

Because I want you to become a successful entrepreneur like me, I will reveal the 13 secrets to you. Click Here to download it for free.

…………………………..

8. Feed Your Broiler Chickens

During your broilers production, at a different stage, a different type of feed is given to the broilers.

Below is a table description of their feeding process;

The feeds given to the boilers should be highly nutritious and comprises; a high ratio of protein, amino acid, lysine, and methionine with low fiber in their feed for good growth and also feeds that has supplements of vitamin A, B2, D3, B12, and K.

For the water intake, provide the broilers with adequate water for they take about thrice the amount of feed they eat per day. There is also high increase in water intake during hot weather and when high protein ration is fed to them. Do not give them too hot or too cold water; instead give them water of a moderate temperature of about 10 – 12°C.

9. Give the Right Medication to Your Broilers

Recommended medications and vitamins should be administered to your broilers at a different age to aid in good growth, and prevent diseases.

• For day-old chicks; to prevent Newcastle disease, Lasota should be put into their water.
• For 7 days old chicks; to prevent Infectious bursal disease, IBD vaccine should be given to them.
• For 14 days old chicken; to prevent or cure Newcastle and Marek’s diseases, Lasota should be given to them.
• For 21 days old chicks; to prevent Gumboro disease, Mild strain vaccine should be administered to them.

(Note; that some of this drugs can be put into their water. Before giving them drugs, it should be recommended and measured. Always give them multi-vitamins to regulate their body after giving them the vaccines. If you are still confused on the medication to give them, then kindly consult an experienced veterinarian. )

Also note that it’s always better for every serious poultry farmer to have a veterinary doctor near-by so has to easily report whatever symptoms you noticed with your birds with your veterinary doctor.

10. Market Your Broilers

After all the work, this is the part when you gain. It is recommended that you make a market research about the price  of broiler chickens in your target market (even before you set up broiler production business in Kenya).

You can sell directly to interested individual, to those that deal on frozen foods or to companies that need them in larger quantity. You should weigh them when selling.

(Tips; you should start marketing your broilers days before it reaches its growth period; this will prevent you from additional cost of feeds)

11. Care for Your Broiler Chickens

When adequate care is given to your broilers; the gain could be great. Below are more additional care you should render to your broilers or broiler chicks;

• Make sure that feeds and fresh water are always available. Do not allow them to seek for it especially at their brooding stage.
• If you notice any weak, deformed, and sickly chicks, you should separate them into another room, till your vet doctor comes.
• Always keep a close eye on your chickens. Always check them at night before going to bed.
• You should not provide your broilers with much fat food. But you can give them this in warm weather.
• Always know when to clear their house and put fresh sawdust to prevent the spread of diseases.

Click Here to visit our associate poultry farm and get our practical poultry farming training or invite our experienced farmers to work with you

Record Keeping in Broiler Production

You should keep a record of every activity of your broilers. In your record, there should be;

• The amount of feeds intake daily/weekly.
• The medication, vaccination and other veterinary expenses.
• The number of the day-old chicks you purchased.
• The number of broilers that died and what caused it.
• The number of chickens sold or used for home consumption.
• Labor (if you would employ an assist) and other variable costs.
• The total number of broilers after sold or death.

Broilers Production in Kenya; Growth Rates.

Though broiler growth depends on the breeds but mostly a healthy broiler is already grown between 45-60 days (like 2 months). Some farmers might prefer to extend it to 3 months before marketing it. It all depends. Just know that as your broilers grow, you will see the physical changes.

Getting Capital for Your Broiler Production in Kenya

For your capital, you may request for a loan in banks or you can use your savings if you have any. If the right steps are taken and practiced well; in or no time you will make your profit from your broilers production or broiler poultry farming business in Kenya.

PS; This post could be downloaded as PDF (How to Start Broiler Production in Kenya )

If you’re serious about starting a successful business in Kenya, you need to read my free book;

 13 Secrets which school did not teach you about how to be rich

I wrote this book after I have spent over 10 years in the business world.

It’s a revelation of what I learned, which school did not teach you, about how to be rich.

Because I want you to become a successful entrepreneur like me, I will reveal the 13 secrets to you. Click Here to download it for free.

…………………………..

If you’ll like to visit our associate poultry farm near you, to learn how to start and be successful as a broiler farmer, Click HERE

We’ll also give you our phone numbers, should you have any questions.

Click HERE

We Love You!

Dear friend, you’re welcome to the Africa Business Classroom (ABC).

I started my first business before I was a boy of 15. Today I run my company in Lagos and operate in different states of Nigeria.

Make sure you read every word of this post and come back to download my 2 free business books HERE

Let’s start this tutorial…

Ever thought of starting your own a tomato farming business in Kenya?

You may think that only the Kiambu, Kajiado, Kisii part of Kenya grows tomatoes, but I can tell you that anybody, in anywhere can grow tomato provided you are well informed, well planned and have done all the necessary things.

Just like the popular gither, rice, and ugali; tomato is among the popular foodstuff that Kenyans can’t do without. If it is not used in making stew, it is used in making jollof rice, fruit salad, juice and even soup.

The scarcity of tomatoes had a huge effect on Kenyans causing some of them to use the artificial tomato paste to prepare their meal and even to the extent of preparing their meals with only plenty of pepper.  No doubt tomato is indeed among the versatile and most important cash crops in Kenya.

Brief History of Tomato Farming

According to  wikipedia tomato species are originated in Central and South America. The Nahuatl (Aztec language) word tomatl gave rise to the Spanish word “tomate“, from which the English word tomato originates. Its use as a food originated in Mexico, and spread throughout the world following the Spanish colonization of the Americas.

However, the Spanish explorers brought in tomato into Spain and it was later taken to Morocco, Turkey, and Italy. In Italy and France, it was termed “love apple”. It was then, generally believed that the tomato was poisonous and its use as a food crop was only accepted in the 18th century.

So you see tomato is not only consumed in Kenya but worldwide. One might even go to the extent of exporting this plant to other countries, but in this article, we will only be discussing on selling your tomato locally; that is within Kenyan.

Wait!

After I have spent over a decade in the business world, I discovered 13 Secrets which school did not teach you about how to be rich

Because I want you to become a successful entrepreneur like me, I will reveal the 13 secrets to you. Click Here to download it for free.

…………………………..

Tomato Farming; Health Benefits and Nutrition Values of Tomato

Most people do refer to tomato as the world healthiest fruit because of its many health benefits (You might call it a fruit or vegetable. It’s up to you).

Here are the health benefits of tomato and more reason why you might consider tomato farming in Kenya;

• Tomatoes helps in managing blood pressure; Tomato can help in the management of high blood pressure.
• Tomatoes helps to maintain a healthy hair; Tomatoes are good for the hair; the vitamin A in tomato helps in making the hair strong and shiny.
• Tomatoes are good for the skin; the high level of lycopene in tomato makes the skin to look tender, shiny and smooth. And sometimes, it can also be used as a facial cleanser.
• Tomatoes helps to prevent cancer; The outstanding thing about tomatoes is its ability to prevent cancers. Lycopene is a natural antioxidant that works effectively to slow the growth of cancerous cells so therefore, cooked tomatoes produce even more lycopene which can aid to fight against cancers.
• Tomatoes repairs cigarettes damages; this amazing fruit contain coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid that work to protect the body from carcinogens that are produced from cigarette smoke. So if you know someone who is a heavy smoker; you might want to recommend this fruits to him/her.
• Tomatoes keeps the kidney in shape; Tomatoes helps to keep the kidney health; thus helps in preventing kidney stone.
• Tomato is good for the eyes and perfect checker for sugar level; The Vitamin A found in tomatoes is a perfect remedy for improving vision and also prevent night blindness. Tomato can also help diabetes patient to keep their blood sugar levels under better control.
• Tomato provides essential antioxidants for the body; the Vitamin A and Vitamin C in tomatoes serve as antioxidants and this is because these vitamins and beta-carotene work as antioxidants to neutralize harmful free radicals in the blood.
• Tomatoes help to maintain strong bones; Tomatoes contain a considerable amount of calcium and Vitamin K. These nutrients are usually known for maintaining strong bones.

As you can see, tomatoes have so many nutrients which make it be among the healthiest fruit or vegetables for healthy living.

We can keep on discussing the many values of tomatoes but in other to stick to our main topic; we will be discussing on how to plant and make considerable money from tomato farming in Kenya.

Where Can I Grow Tomatoes in Kenya?

You can grow your tomatoes anywhere in Kenya, provided you have a good and healthy soil and water facilities. Though in Kenya, there are states which are well known for growing tomatoes. They are;

• Kisii
• Kajiado
• Kiambu

As you can see, all these counties are in the Nyanza, Rift-Valle, Central & Eastern province of Kenya. But do not have a reluctant mind on setting up your tomato farming business, like I earlier said anyone, from anywhere in Kenya can grow tomatoes, provided you have a good and healthy soil and water facilities.

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How to Start Tomato Farming in Kenya

Image credit; Flickr

Just like few fruits which are simple to plant; planting tomatoes or Setting up a tomatoes farm in Kenya and growing them is quite simple as putting a seed in the ground and covering it up with sands. I will walk you through the process of planting your own tomatoes.

1. Find a perfect site for your tomato farming

The first step you need to take is for you to find a perfect site for your tomatoes farm. Choose a site that is not too far from the market. And also, there should be an easy transportation access available, in other to have an easy way of transporting your tomatoes when the time comes; after harvesting.

2. Choose a health land/soil for your tomato farming

It is important to carefully choose or select a good soil for planting your tomatoes because a good and healthy soil will determine the type of tomatoes that will be produced and the overall productivity of your tomato business.

The soil could be a well-managed sandy loam and heavy clay loams free of hardpan but know that the best tomatoes are obtained from deep, well-drained loam. Keep in mind that the soil should be rich in organic matter and it should be endowed with plant nutrients, with a pH value of 6 to 7.

In preparing your land; the soil should be well-prepared, loose and in good tilth. The soil should be cleared of all weeds and might be ploughed (if heavy) for about 1-3 times to make it light weights. In any case where you have an acidic soil; you can reduce or level it by applying lime in an appropriate quality.

3. Choose the right tomato varieties

another good way of getting the best from your tomatoes farming is to plant the right tomato varieties. The different varieties of tomatoes grown in the world generally are;

• Beefsteak tomatoes
• Cherry tomatoes
• Plum tomatoes
• Grapes Tomatoes
• Campari tomatoes
• Tom berries Tomatoes
• Oxheart tomatoes
• Pear tomatoes
• Slicing or Globe tomatoes

4. Plant Your Tomato

The best way to plant your tomato is by first planting it in the nursery, then later transplanting to the field.  Make sure you prepare the nursery bed for a period of about 5 weeks.

This is done by covering them with a polyethylene sheet to prevent weed growth, fungus, nematodes, pests, and bacteria. You should consider applying organic manure and fertilizer before planting. Know that your seedbed should be 55-65cm wide, 5-6cm long and 20-25cm high.

On How to Plant Your Tomatoes; Planting your tomatoes can be done around March/April during the beginning of raining season. Plant by placing the tomatoes seeds on the soil and cover with a quarter inch layer of soil and press it with your hand or handle (you may cover it with dry grasses if you want. This is to prevent loss of moisture).

After planting, you will see them growing in the next 5-7 days (you can then remove the dry grasses to allow for proper growth) then allow it to grow for about one month or 5 weeks before transplanting to the field.

(Note; Your Tomato Nursery can be done on a small farm or on your garden; if you have one. Just make sure that the soil is healthy and cared for.)

5. Transplant Your Tomatoes (moving your tomato plant to the plant)

After one month or five weeks of planting your tomato in the nursery then you can now freely plant them in the field. Tomatoes are very tender and fragile, it is best transplanted the same day you uprooted it from the nursery to avoid dehydration and fatigue.

You should do the transplanting with hand to prevent damages (do not use any machines for this). If your farm is large, then you should consider employing more labors to assist you in this.

On How to Transplant Your Tomatoes; You should Open the soil of where you want to transplant with a  piece of small wood, insert the seedling into the hole and cover it with loose soil. The soil where you intend to transplant your plant should be moist.

(Note; after transplant, the seedbeds should be irrigated regularly after sowing and until the seedlings reach a height of 5 to 7 cm. Do not just leave it like that, or else, it will die.)

6. Irrigate Your Tomato Farm

if you want to get the best of your crop; then ensure you supply your plant with enough water.  During the dry season (these are the critical times), between the month of October and February, make sure you constantly supply your water with enough water; like in every 3-7 day’s interval (depending on the type of soil). Know that you shouldn’t put too much water on it to prevent them from cracking.

7. Weed and Fertilize Your Tomato Farm

After one to two months of transplanting your tomatoes from the nursery, you should consider weeding your tomato farm. You should be careful as you weed to prevent damages on your tomato crop.

You can also use Chemical weed control, by applying registered chemicals. If you intend to use Mechanical methods to weed, it should be shallow and not too close to the plant; to prevent damages to the plants.

Fertilizer should be applied after the first weeding. This is to help restock the soil nutrients taken or affected by the weeds. The fertilizer should have contents like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, potash, molybdenum, calcium, and magnesium, along with other trace minerals, all in adequate quantity. Tomato requires these minerals to grow and flourish.

8. Control Pests and Diseases in Your Tomato Farm

Apart from weed control, you should also control your tomato plant from pests. Example of some tomatoes pests and diseases are;

• Plusia looper
• Cutworm
• Rust mite
• Red spider mite
• Nematodes
• Aphids
• Leaf miner/potato tuber moth\Bacterial wilt
• Fusarium wilt
• Late blight
• Erinose mite
• Bacterial canker
• Thrips

These pests and diseases can be controlled by;

• Practicing crop rotation.
• Always destroy infected plants and throw them away from the field.
• Using registered chemicals.
• Practicing of proper sanitation.
• And controlling drainage.

9. Harvest You Tomatoes

Your tomatoes will mature after 3 month that is about 8-12 weeks. By then, you should start picking them. The color also should also tell you that it is ripe. You should pick your ripe tomatoes according to size, color, and quality 

10. Store Your Tomatoes

 If you’re not taking your tomatoes to the market immediately, you may choose to store your tomatoes. Pack your tomatoes in wooden boxes, basket or cartons. Store them in a room which temperature is about 12°C and 86% to 90% relative humidity.

11. Market Your Tomatooes

After harvesting and storing, then it’s time to market your tomatoes.

It’s very important you’ve identified the best market/sellers to sell your tomatoes for because tomatoes are very fragile and perishable.

Unlike rice, cocoa, etc, you cannot store tomatoes for a long period of time, so the market must be ready, even before you harvest your tomatoes.

Tomato farming in Kenya is a good business that has a promising profit if it’s been practiced adequately.

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We love you.

Dear friend, you’re welcome to the Africa Business Classroom (ABC).

I started my first business before I was a boy of 15. Today I run my company in Lagos and operate in different states of Nigeria.

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As South African government is trying hard to diversify the economy from the oil-mono-economy to Agriculture, Livestock farming is gradually becoming the next oil.

In this article, we’ll be sharing with you some great livestock farming you could start in South Africa.

Many of these livestock businesses have been extensively discussed on this website and we have linked to them accordingly.

And if you are interested in either Poultry farming, Fish farming, Pig farming, Snail Farming, etc., you can visit our associates’ farms for practical training or invite our experienced farmers to work with you.

I’ll soon give you our phone numbers. Continue reading ….

Now let’s get started!

Introduction to The Livestock Farming in South Africa

Livestock farming is defined simply as the process of breeding animals for the sole purpose of consumption. Animal husbandry which is another name for livestock farming, is a rapidly growing arm of farming in South Africa, and the primary reason why more entrepreneurial farmers are venturing into livestock farming is its profitability.

Why Livestock Farming?

As long as humans exist, there will always be need for food and the two major sources of food for mankind are crops and animals.

Now when you think about the huge population of South Africa (going to 200 million as at the time of writing this), you’ll know why livestock farming business could be profitable in South Africa. as the South Africa community depends mostly on meat, especially from cows and chicken.

Meat in South Africa is an important part of daily meals, and a good proportion of household food budgets are expended on meat and related products.

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Attributes of Livestock Farmers

There are certain attributes that successful livestock farmers have in common, because while livestock farming is profitable, it can also be hard, and capital and labour intensive.

The first attribute is commitment.

For any venture in life to be successful, livestock farming included, the visionary must be very committed to his/her vision. A successful livestock farmer has to be hardworking.

It can be back-breaking work, and laziness will not suffice. When you think about taking care of animal from day one till they grow up to reproduce, you’ll see that it’s not a cheap work, though you could delegate (employ) some people to manage your farm

Other characteristics of successful livestock farmers are pro-activeness and a thirst for knowledge. One person does not know it all, and for a farmer to be successful, he cannot rely absolutely on his own knowledge alone.

There is constantly evolving scientific and business information out there on how to make livestock farming more profitable and better, and a livestock farmer worth his salt will seek to learn the latest techniques and methods.

A few other non-negotiable attributes are discipline, doggedness and goal-mindedness.

Livestock Farming in South Africa

• Poultry farming
• Pig farming
• Fish farming
• Snail farming
• Cattle farming
• Goat farming
• Rabbit farming

As always, demand drives supply, even in the commercial livestock farming industry.

The kind of animals reared in South Africa for consumption, based on the demand for them, include Cow, Goat, Cattle, Pig, and several others while poultry birds includes chicken, turkey and duck. Fish, with an emphasis on the catfish breed, is also another livestock bred for its meat in South Africa.

Below, we take a brief but closer look at each animal bred for consumption in South Africa. To know more about them and to see how we can help you to train you or to start anyone of them, kindly click on anyone of your choice.

1. Fish Farming Business

This is about the most common and perhaps most hyped form of livestock farming in South Africa at the present. It is estimated that five out of every ten South Africans consume catfish on a weekly basis, meaning that at the very least 75 million catfish are bought and consumed every week in South Africa alone.

That makes the demand for the product very high. The potentials of catfish farming in South Africa are endless, and established fish farmers say that it is possible to recoup investment outlay in 12 months.

Before starting your own fishery business you’ll need:

A piece of land

Fish ponds. You will need to procure the services of a pond construction expert for this (or contact us to help you).

Borehole and overhead tank: This will serve as the water reservoir for the fishes.

Fingerlings: Make sure to buy fast growing and disease resistant breeds.

A few pointers:

Before beginning a catfish farming business, here are a few pointers to consider:

Size: decide what size your farm will be, and the size will determine if you already have the necessary capital or if you need to access outside funding.

Level of demand: Since your objective is to make profit, you have to investigate the level of demand for the catfish in your desired market area.

Estimate the cost: Once you have done your market research, you will understand how many numbers of catfish you’re likely to sell per month. The next step is to try to know your monthly cost. This includes one off expenditures such as building of fish tanks, and recurrent expenditures such as fish feed and medication.

(You can contact us if you’ll like a cost analyses and fish farming business plan)

Your competitors: Business is about winning market share, so you must find out if there were other fish farms operating before in your intended market. How are they doing? How much of the market demand are they satisfying?

What share of the market will you be able to effectively capture?

Knowledge base: Continue to increase your knowledge base about catfish breeding and farming, marketing, negotiation, market dominance etc so that your business can be profitable.

If you’ll like an intensive fish farming business training or even want our expert fish farmers to help you to set up your own fish farm, click HERE

2. Pig Farming in South Africa

Pig farming has began to become popular among livestock farmers in South Africa in the recent time.

Pork, the byproduct of the farms, is said to fetch an annual revenue of  R25 billion in South Africa. Smart investors and entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the huge demand for pork, and since pigs reproduce in large numbers and grow very fast, the sky is the limit.

A single pig can have a litter of as much as 8/10 piglets at a time, making it one of the fastest reproducing livestock in the world.

Before starting your own pig farming in South Africa, you will need:

A piece of land for breeding: It is advisable to secure a piece of land in the rural areas. Land is cheaper there, and the pigs can root around in the fields once in a while.

Standard pens: To house the pigs. This must have proper drainage to eliminate bad odour and diseases.

Water pool: While this is optional, it is important to note that pigs like swimming and being able to keep cool is necessary for their well beings because pigs are not sweating animals.

Healthy piglets.

A few pointers:

Veterinary doctor: Secure the services of vet doctor for regular checkup and vaccination as well as feeding and nutrition advice.

Employ workers: You will need some workers for assistance, as pig farming can be labour intensive.

Feeding: Pigs eat a wide variety of food, but they need a balanced diet like humans do. Their diet should contain fibre, energy, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals in order for them to thrive.

If you want our experienced pig farmers to train you or help you to set-up your own pig farming business in South Africa, click HERE

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3. Poultry farming

Poultry farming business is part of the animal husbandry which is as old as mankind itself.

This aspect of livestock farming presents one of the finest opportunity for entrepreneurs to make good money within the shortest period of time possible. This is made possible due to the quick maturity of chickens and turkeys.

There is also that overwhelming demand for eggs on a daily basis.

A farmer might start poultry farming either for the meat of the chicken and turkey, or for the eggs that the chicken can lay.

Before you start, you will need:

A piece of land

Pens (chicken’s houses): Housing is very important for chicken rearing and effective keeping and management. Poultry housing are classified according to the scale and the management system.

Day old chicks

Feeders, Drinkers, Perches. Nests, Crates, Lighting system, Waste disposal system, Incubator, Heaters or brooders, Egg tray, Cages and coops.

Feed

A few pointers:

Decide on the type of bird you want to concentrate on. While the most common bird reared in South Africa is the chicken (Layers and Broilers), some farms also breed turkeys, geese and/or ducks.

Decide on your area of interest: Choose you exact area of focus. This may be layers breeding which is egg production by Layers, broilers breeding which refers to the chicken meat production by broilers, turkey breeding which refers to turkey meat production by turkeys, and hatchery which has to do with breeding chicken for the purpose of hatching new chicks.

Location: A location in a very remote rural area will cost far less than the one close to the urban area.

If you’re interested in poultry business, our experienced poultry farmers could train you or even help you to set up your poultry business.

To get our experienced poultry farmers to train you or to work with you so that you won’t lose your investment, Click Here 

4. Rabbit farming

Rabbit rearing is a business that requires less space and can therefore be done anywhere. The capital investment is relatively small. You will however need to have an in-depth knowledge of how to raise the animals, and do extensive market research to determine who your customers are.

Every single part of the rabbit is useful; from the skin which is used to leather production, to its furs which is used for clothes manufacturing and meat for consumption.

Before you start your rabbit farming business in South Africa, you will need:

Cages or hutches: These should be able to protect the rabbits from heat and humidity.

Feeders and drinkers

Kits/baby rabbits

Feed: This may be processed feed or edible vegetable and leaves, elephant grass, potatoes and different kinds of herbs.

5. Goat farming

Goat farming is gaining popularity in South Africa by and by. The meat is alleged to be the best kind of animal meat for the following reasons: it tastes good, and traditionally has a lower fat content than chicken does, and a higher protein content than beef does.

It also has a lot of byproducts such as cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and butter. These are the reasons goat farming is considered by wise farmers as a lucrative venture and it is increasingly becoming very popular among modern farmers in South Africa.

Before starting your own goat farming business in South Africa, you will need:

A piece of land/pasture: Acquire a good grazing ground that grows plenty of grass varieties. Goats need a large expanse of land, because they move around a lot while grazing.

Appropriate fencing – Construct short perimeter fence round your pasture or barbwire fence.

Housing: Goats like to stay indoors when the weather is not conducive e.g too hot or raining.

A few pointers:

Species: There are a large number of goat breeds suitable for different purposes of rearing. Some are very good for milk production while some are good for the meat. Choose what is appropriate for your commercial purposes. Once decided, buy healthy kids.

Veterinarians – You will need to have appointment with a veterinary Doctors near you for periodic checkup and vaccination.

6. Cattle rearing

Cattle farming is the process and practice of raising and nurturing cattle from birth until the point at which they provide meat or milk for consumption. The reasons why cattle farming is lucrative in South Africa are not hard to imagine.

One, we are a nation of beef consumers. And two, although cattle are raised primarily for beef or milk production, there is no part of the cow that isn’t useful. Other ‘by-products’ include dairy products, cow hide, cow horns, bones, hooves and stearic acid.

Cattle farmers basically raise cattle either to sell as a whole or sell their products.

Getting started cattle rearing business in South Africa, you will need:

Farmland: A very large piece of land.

Farm equipment:

Cow sheds

Feeding and watering equipment

Healthy calves

A few pointers

Cattle business model: Most farmers either go for Dairy Operation Business Model or Beef Production Business Model. Dairy Operation Business Model is raising cattle primarily to sell their dairy products – especially milk. Beef Production Business Model is raising cattle primarily for beef consumption.

Whichever model you decide on plays a key role in determining the farm equipment you will go for.

Climate: Be sure that rainfall, relative humidity, temperature and all are favourable to your cattle breed

Government Policies: Varying from State to State, some governments have all sorts of rules guiding cattle ranches. You will do well to consider these policies before purchasing the land.

Breed: There are over 800 known breeds of cows. Your cattle business model should be put into consideration before deciding on your choice of cow. It sure doesn’t make sense to settle for beef cows when your intended model is for dairy production. There are two breeds traditionally reared in South Africa. They are the Zebu and the Taurines.

Vet doctors: Always have a veterinary doctor on call. S/he will help with vaccinations, birthing, feeding and treatment.

Other Livestock Farming Business in South Africa

Other livestock that can be profitably reared in South Africa for their meat are

7. Grass cutters,

8. Sheep,

NOTE;

There are few other livestock farming in South Africa but they may not as profitable as the above mentioned.

Advantages of livestock farming in South Africa

It is an easy way of gaining employment and providing income.
When properly run, it is very lucrative
It helps in feeding the nation
It can serve as a source of export income.

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Disadvantages of livestock farming in South Africa

It is generally labour intensive. You have to be willing to put in the required work hours to make a profit.
When there is a lack of knowledge or appropriate know-how, it can lead to loss of income and savings.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while livestock farming has more advantages than it does disadvantages, the onus rests on the farmer to make a success of his farm.

As previously mentioned, he has to be dogged and committed, and he has to continually educate himself on best practices in order to take advantage of modern scientific breakthroughs and business knowledge to run his business successfully.

The importance of market research cannot be overemphasized. Research the market for demand, research your competitors, research how to source for funding, research where to get the best equipment and feed. Research everything.