Fish for prosperity

Entrepreneur

About Me

My name is Anne Eboi. I used to work but lost my job and jobs have become difficult to find these days. After applying many times with no success I have realized I can make it in farming because I have a passion for it and I also grew up on a farm. I also have an interest in fish business. My sister lives on the shores of Lake Victoria and usually sends me a few but I have been thinking of getting more for business.
I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. There was a time I was teaching in a school but earning very little. I could not make ends meet. I had to think outside the box and this made me buy bedsheets from street vendors and re-sell them to colleagues. I would also do home tuition for children. For me, life is a struggle, but I have a positive mind. Despite the struggles, I have never slept hungry or defaulted on my rent. After struggling with jobs which hardly pay well, I have decided entrepreneurship is what will get me financial stability.However, due to lack of finances, my ideas are not tested.

My Business

At the moment I get traditional green vegetables from people's farms and the market and sell directly to clients. I also have an eighth of an acre in Kajiado County where I grow onions which I sell.In Kenya, food is ever on demand. I spend roughly 20,000 ksh to cultivate the crop and if the market is good, I get profits of the same amount after three months. I use the profits for upkeep which includes basic needs and school. My future plans include mixed farming where I will keep dairy cows, poultry and do vegetable farming. So I need loans to slowly begin developing the farm.
Recently, I learned of a new business of selling fish to a selected clientele. The fish is delivered from the market and I prepare it to sell in the evening. I have tried it but realize I need more capital. It pays better and will definitely boost my farming activities. At the moment, I buy a kilo of fish at ksh 400. I usually buy 3 kilos at 1200ksh. Transport costs, oil for frying, charcoal, and packaging cost me a further 500ksh. I usually make 3,000ksh thus leaving me with a profit of 1300ksh. I only do the fish business on Saturday for lack of funds to do it daily. This is because I sell to my trusted friends, neighbors and relatives who may take up to two weeks to pay me. My challenge right now is to find space in Kitengela town and more capital to enable me do it on a daily basis. In addition, if I get capital, I may get it directly from the lake at a cheaper cost because I have a sister who resides there. I wish to diversify because my onion farming is not labor intensive given that mine is really small scale(I have a lot of free time and fish is only sold in the evenings), and the returns are also insufficient.

Loan Proposal

I will increase the number of fish I sell. Previously, I only sold on Saturdays. The last loan assisted me to increase the number of days to three. I will retain the three days but increase my sales. I usually sell whole Tilapia. Now I want to add Nile Perch Fillet pieces. A kilo costs $4. I will cut them into small pieces and the profit from the sales is estimated to be $4. Please help me achieve my dreams.

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