My name is Beryl Yuness Okinyi, Business Development Officer. Am turning 30 this year and a holder of BBA Finance, Diploma in Information Technology from Bugema University – Uganda and live in Nairobi, Kenya.
Agriculture being a major player in Kenya’s economy is therefore charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the entire farming fraternity is re-defined and geared towards total sustainability. Considering that factors of production such as land, capital, entrepreneurship and rainfall have been compromised i.e. due to climate change, there are no predictable rains as there were some decades ago and agricultural land has been reduced following the ever growing population. Kenyans have no otherwise other than embracing modern farming methods which ensure maximum production on a small piece of land.
This is almost an about turn from the traditional farming methods such as broadcast system of planting. Hence the generational farmers are talking of alternative farming methods, agribusiness and smart farming. However, these farming systems require reliable sources of quality services through credible and trusted local based organization
WHY RABBITS
Rabbit meat has low fat content of 4, 5% with low cholesterol and is highly digested. The meat is recommended for people with lifestyle diseases, the elderly and the infants. If up-scaled, commercial rabbit keeping is an alternative employment creation industry, i.e. there is need for a farm hand to take care of the rabbits, a porter to design a make the feeding apparatus, an artisan for purposes of construction, transporters and feed manufacturing companies workers in the slaughter and processing companies. The rabbit is a highly productive livestock species with potential to produce high quality animal protein for expanding population of Kenya. A live rabbit when slaughtered yields almost 50% of its live weight. Rabbit meat has a protein content of 20.8% and compares closely with veal, chicken and turkey meat.
The office of home economics, state relations of the U.S Department of Agriculture made extensive tests and stated that domestic rabbit meat is the most nutritious meat known to man. Rabbit meat has been used and is suitable for special diets such as those convalescing. Given that it is tender and easily digestible it becomes ideal for children, the sick and elderly. A doe that weighs pounds can produce 320 pounds of meat in a year. This is more than a cow and it takes 2 acres of land to raise one cow. Rabbits are economical/friendly to space, they require limited land i.e. it takes an eighth of an acre to raise 1000 breeder rabbits and are raised up off the ground making it one of the cleanest meats known.
Rabbits are highly prolific and are fast maturing i.e. they give birth under proper management in quick succession and mature in a space of 4-5 months and it’s manure stands out as the best manure especially for farmers practicing organic farming. It has a natural combination of 2.20% nitrogen, 0.87% phosphorus, 2.30% potassium, 0.3% sulfur, 1.2% calcium and 0.40% magnesium. It can be observed that, when two portions of land are enriched using rabbit manure and other portion of land uses another option, the land where rabbit manure is used performs better. Rabbit urine is high in concentration of ammonia. When diluted with water in the ratio of 1:5 it works as both foliar feed and insecticide, making it ideal for greenhouse farming. Rabbit skin is ideal in the manufacture of indoor winter shoes, fishing rods, belts, and beautiful handbags for ladies.
I intend use the $5,000 to acquire 10 start-up rabbits (9 Does and 1 Buck), build a rabbit structure with enough space for expansion, pellet feeds, and feeding cans, transportation of building materials, medication as well as marketing and promotion. This is possible within a time frame of 2-3 weeks and ready to begin.
The expected production after 6- 12 months, for instance 10 doe rabbits give birth to 10 litters each and each weighing 4 kgs sold at Kes 400 per kg is Kes 160,000 in the first year. This will be able to cover the expenses incurred at start-up and be able to plough back into the business.
I believe every rabbit keeper is a business person regardless of whether he/she keeps a few or many. For success we must put time, talent and money into the project for some expected returns. It will take remarkable efforts to initiate and establish real entrepreneurship that will usher in the realization of the same. Rabbits are brilliant animals to keep.
This is the best employment for any youth out there where you don’t need a lot of space to realize your dream.
In conclusion rabbit keeping is a venture whose contribution in the near future to the national economy cannot be under estimated.
Blogpost and pictures submitted by Beryl Yuness Okinyi (Kenya) – beryl.okinyi(at)gmail.com
The content, structure and grammar is at the discretion of the author only.
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Reblogged this on berylyuness.
Great work keep it up. Many youth need to come up with such entrepreneurship mind to tackle unemployment rate that has become big obstacle to our economy.
Thank you Samuel, high unemployment rate has led to increased crime rates, high rural-urban migration leading to proliferation of slums and shanty living conditions in major urban centers. Currently the leadership of the country is engaged in a campaign geared towards attainment of vision 2030. This is an elaborate youth dream which if realized shall usher the country into an active economic recovery, food security, infrastructural advancement, good education systems and good health care.
I like Beryl’s focus in what she wants to do. Rabbit keeping is not so capital intensive, requires little space hence can be undertaken both as urban and large scale farming, returns are quick, can easily generate income and create employment opportunities both in production and processing areas. To cap it all, rabbit meat is very nutritious and can play a big role towards achievement of the Nation’s Food and Nutrition Security.
I clearly remember during my primary school in the mid 90s, the then syllabus had an introduction to rabbit keeping through science and agriculture subjects. However with the removal of Agriculture from primary syllabus came the passing on of the 4-K club and hence rabbit keeping at youth levels. Equally it is sad to mention that even at institutions of higher learning, rabbits are classified as “small animals” and hence no sufficient information is made available. That being the case, the information available on rabbits is scarce and has been developed the hard way basically through our existing farms.
Your concern about the removal of agriculture as an examinable subject from the school syllabus was a mistake. But good news is that there are advanced efforts by collaborators in the agriculture and nutrition sectors to reintroduce it back during the ongoing schools’ curriculum review.
Rabbit meat is quickly becoming an alternative source of white meat to many households, I believe Beryl’s idea will be supported by this demand for the rabbit meat.
Thank you Steve, No one can never go wrong with this. It is fat and cholesterol free, therefore it is not only highly nutritious but also very easily digested. It is therefore of much nutritional value than chicken.
Great source of inspiration and a great project to empower young women and the youth in Kenya.
Thanks F. You should give it a try. Rabbit keeping is not so capital intensive, requires little space that’s readily available…..
yes its time people turn their heads away from the red meat totally if not completely…. you go girl rabbit keeping is indeed a good project, a healthy nation in the making…….quite a well thought of idea,brilliant it is!!!!
Thank you Pauline. Well said, i believe its an eye opener for you and me and all the youth out there
This is a great project. It is viable and achievable all the best Beryl.
Am glad you feel the same way. Thank you Valarie.
Thanks for sharing..I’m motivated with the project.
You are welcome Susan. This is the way to go and make the changes in our lives.
Wonderful proposal to keep the youth engaged and earn a living. The fact that small area can be used for rabbit keeping is encouraging even to those who have small compounds or land. The youth are attracted to jobs with low hanging fruits. Given the short gestatation period for rabbits, it’s indeed a dangling carrot to the youth. I support this venture and applause the well articulated proposal!
Thank you Judy. We have no otherwise other than embracing modern farming methods which ensure maximum production on a small piece of land, hence smart farming. Rabbits are economical and friendly to space. They require limited land where It takes an eighth of an acre to raise 1000 breeder rabbits…
Beryl, i totally agree with you that rabbit meat is healthy considering the low fat content, however you also need to do massive campaigns in some of the communities to change attitude towards rearing & consumption of Rabbit meat. There are many fora within the Ministry of agriculture at both National and County level for this kind of campaign. This is a well thought project, good luck
Thank you Hellen. Equally it is sad to mention that even at institutions of higher learning, rabbits are classified as “small animals” and hence no sufficient information is made available. I believe through the Ministry of Agriculture this can be realized both at County and National level…
love this venture, this can provide employment and a great source of meat for many people. love it.
Am honoured Wendy, i believe its time to live the healthy way and create job opportunities for our youths….
great job. i think this is a a potentially profitable venture, that can provide jobs for the community ans well as be a source of healthy meat. i love it.
Yes Fatma. And the returns are quick as well. Within 6-12 months it will definitely bare fruits.
GOOD JOB. this will work! there is growing demand for rabbit meat as people become more conscious to health issues.
Thank you Zakiya. I totally agree. Here’s to good health….
Rabbit farming provides a huge opportunity for youth to engage in agribusiness more easily with limited resources.
The fast growth rate is ideal for the youth who require quick source of income..
Very true Joshua…i hope we youth will embrace this an take advantage of the opportunity now that unemployment is the order of the day…
Am happy you brought this up, rabbits meat is exceptionally nutritious compared to chicken , it is tender and easily digestible it becomes ideal for children, the sick and elderly. This is the way to go for our youth, good luck!
This is quite awesome started Rabbit farming this year too…As my Agripreneur Project. and it is doing quite well so far. Your blog has given me more insight on it….Indeed this is an Ideal business venture in agriculture case in point Rabbit meat is white meat making it a health option. Bravo Berylyuness!!
Can’t thank you enough Caroline, let’s enlighten our youth as well as women out there on this viable project that no one can go wrong about. It comes with greater value: good nutrition, skin for sale, meat for sale, urine as ammonia (best fertilizer for crops). All these summed up brings greater earnings at the end….
This is a great idea rabbit meat sells much and the idea is awesome. Will help in anyway needed keep up the good work beryl
Thank you Grace. Looking forward to continued support once the project is up and running. ..