FREDRICK KITUYIAN
Born in 1971 in Narok county in Kenya. Iam a second born in the family of ten. Narok is the mother to the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve known for one of the great wonders of the world, ”THE MIGRATION OF WILDBEAST”.
I’m a pharmacist by profession. I undertook both my primary and secondary education in the same county and later my medical career at The Kenya Medical Training in the city of Nairobi. Worked with the government of Kenya for six years after my graduation and later joined the private sector to date. Currently living in Thika-Kenya as a manager of Thika Chemist (K)Ltd. Where I have been for the last thirteen years.
During this period I managed to buy a seventeen acres land in Narok county where I have been doing wheat farming interchanging with other cereals such as maize and beans. My wife being a teacher by profession has a vision of beginning a kindergarten school in that locality which gradually will grow into a full primary school to begin next year but one 2016.
Currently in the same farm I began rabbit farming which is doing very well. Due to the increase in demand for white meat in the Kenyan and the international market I decided to venture into business . With the aim of expanding the business and developing the farm, I panted Napier grass for fodder as I plan to have dairy farming that is Zero grazing in the same place. The grass is grown very well there.
Being a professional , I began a community pharmacy which serves the community in the nearby trading center which also acts as a source of income.
Being a family man, most of my free time, I like going out with my family. They love swimming. My children age 13yrs,12years and 4years. I also enjoy reading and watching movies.
Being employed in Thika Chemist (K)Ltd as a manager and earning a gross salary of $1480, caused me think beyond and start other businesses to cater for my budget deficit. In the locality where I bought the piece of land , I noted there was poor access to the ever increasing need for good health care particularly when it comes to medicine. This being my professional line, I saw the need and began a community pharmacy to serve them and also act as a source of income to me.
The place being a wheat farming zone, most of the time business is always at its peak in the month of August, September and beginning of October. During this period the monthly sales go up to$2200 in the pharmacy. This is due to an influx of people from other parts of the country coming in search of the commodity. During these other months, the months of April and May are always the lowest in terms of sales as they come as low as $1000 a month.
On the same note, due to an increase in demand for white meat particularly in Kenya due to the great awareness in eating healthy, many people have gradually opted for white meat as opposed to red meat. Also due to change in cultural believes where many people were not eating or even rearing rabbits. Those who kept them did so as pets. All these reasons caused the demand for the rabbit meat even in major hotels to increase. This made me come up with the project as a kilo of rabbit meat goes for between $4 - $ 4.5 where one rabbit weighs between 3 – 5kgs. My aim is to have at least 100 rabbits at any given month for sale.
I began with twenty five of them and are rapidly multiplying. In fact the demand is so high that many wants me to sell what I have to them but to me this is a seed for now. Currently not many people have ventured into this business.
As time goes by, my other immediate project is to have the dairy cows as the grass is now well grown in my farm. I began digging a well in the farm for the supply of water but it has stopped briefly thou I believe it will continue once the funds are available.
In Kenya , the culture of consuming red meat is gradually dying away and due to the increase in "eating healthy" education, it has given rise to the high demand in white meat consumption. Other than fish and chicken, rabbit meat has received a positive demand in Kenya much more in the big hotels in the cities.
This made me see this particular area as an opportunity to earn a monthly income as rabbit meat goes for between $4-5 per kilo where one rabbit weighs between 3-5kgs. My intention is to have at least 100 mature rabbits for sale at any one given month for better or good returns.
I began with 25 of them and therefore there is need for more space to house them especially now that they will be giving birth soon. To expand the already existing cages. more capital will be needed to buy extra timber, iron sheets, wire mesh , plastic sheets , plastic gutters and feeding troughs. I estimate this to cost me $220. With a little support from you this dream will definitely become a reality. In Kenya two companies have began the buying of rabbit urine for making folliar fertilizer and therefore there is need of purchasing equipment to collect the same. Other than the meat, the urine adds to the income as it is currently costing $1 per litre. As the business grows and the repayment of the given loans go on, it will be my joy to now get into the dairy farming which as per now, the place is prepared as the planted grass for fodder is mature. This will make the place valuable and ease the milk shortage in the locality. A good dairy cow which is insured, cost about $1000 which gives up to 40litres of milk per day. Currently a litre of milk go for slightly above $1.This will be a good business for the family and I purpose to take it to greater heights.
In venturing into the rabbits farming it was after seeing that the government had allowed a slaughter house for rabbits meat be opened here in Thika.. This in itself increases the market for the rabbit meat. This is done through the Rabbit Association of Kenya. One needs only$10 to be a member and thus enjoy all the benefits of a ready market and good prices. Various seminars to educate farmers are are held once a month. This gives a good training for one to be effective on what he does. Currently ten of my Rabbits are served and it only take 30days for them to give birth. This means ,in less than only one month from now I will be having more rabbits than what the current cages can accommodate and thus need for more materials to build more cages, Rabbits don’t share cages when expecting or even after delivery. They loan will go along way in helping me do the best out of what I have started. I will really appreciate your great assistance and I believe repayment of the loan will not be an issue. .Thanks in advance.