By Prudence Minayo
Many people around the country have built a fortune from chickens. This is the case of Andrew Ashibila who has managed to employ five people and establish a successful chicken business on an 1/8 piece of land. In 2021, he made Sh4 million in profits from rearing chicken, an average of more than Sh300,000 a month.
Here is the story of the 38 year old businessman as told by WoK.
The start
The entrepreneur started the business with 100 chicks. At the time, he did not know a lot about chicken rearing. He was willing to educate himself. He realized that chicks were on high demand and could, therefore, be sold quickly. From this first 100 batch, he made Sh35,000.
Growth and Wins
Realizing the gains of poultry farming, Andrew poured Sh150,000 into the business. This helped him purchase a generator and an incubator and in 2018, Lianfam Africa Ltd was incorporated.
“I realised that poultry farming can be profitable, and invested Sh150,000 into the business, buying an incubator and a small generator. That is how Lianfam Africa Ltd was established in October 2018,” he told Daily Nation.
He told the local daily that the benefits of chicken farming were the high growth rates. For them to be ready for sale, it takes between 27 to 28 weeks. According to him, this means that farmers can begin reaping the benefits in just 31 weeks.
The venture has proved very profitable and his tenacity has enabled him sign contracts worth Ksh14 million with both Kakamega and Vihiga county governments. The Vihiga one is worth Sh9 million.
The farmer has also collaborated with One Acre Fund. This has allowed him to sell chicks to farmers around Vihiga, Trans Nzoia, Kakamega and Busia.
He told DN that he made Ksh3.4 million in his first year of business. In 2020, he made Sh2.8 million and last year, he earned Ksh4 million. Apart from selling chicks, he sells grown hens for as much as Ksh1000.
“During my first year of business, I made a profit of Sh3.4 million, in 2020, the profit margin dropped to Sh2.8million due to Covid-19 pandemic, while last year our average profit bounced to Sh4million, which has enabled me import equipment worth Sh1.8 million to boost my business,” he told the same publication.
Thanks to the success and visibility of his enterprise, he has spoken in major international conferences including; Africa Farm Management Association. He has also spoken to Agriculture students in a few vocational and higher education institutions, such as, Egerton University.
Mr. Ashibila believes that his good fortune is as a results from hard work, determination, goodwill, a business plan, building the right networks and patience.
He has previously Worked at Mumias Distributor Limited as a fleet manager.
Education
Andrew Ashibila is an alumni of Kakamega and Musingu High Schools. He also has a diploma in Business Administration- Business Information Systems from Kenya College of Communications Technology.
