First, young people should be attracted to farming and agribusiness. Greenhouse farming is among the best bets to start with.
Crops such as pepper, capsicum, and tomatoes, among others, are good to start with. As an organization, we can facilitate the groups’ access to sponsorship and markets if it shows potential.
Bamboo farming is another good venture to invest in as the plant is versatile and never lacks markets. Pig keeping is yet another important project which youth can invest in.
For instance, the Netherlands, a small country with a population of about 17 million people, has up to 10 million pigs, showing how important pig-keeping is important to the country’s economy.
Then there is avocado farming, which is among the most productive ventures globally at the moment, especially the Haas variety.
Locally, there is an organization in Nairobi which is currently recruiting up to 10,000 contract farmers to supply them with Hass avocados. This is also a big opening for the youth to capitalize on.
What benefits does one stand to achieve by investing in agribusiness?
Agribusiness is well capable of earning Sh1 million in returns. A small country such as the Netherlands feeds its population and still remains the second largest exporter of agricultural and horticulture produces.
Such an economy obviously has the benefits trickling down to farmers, which makes them rich. Agribusiness essentially is a rewarding sector.
The following are some of the profitable agribusiness ideas in Kenya:
1. Beekeeping
The high demand for honey in the Kenyan market makes
beekeeping one of the most profitable businesses today. Not many people are
brave enough to keep bees even when they think of investing in agriculture in
Kenya. This is due to the lack of knowledge and general fear of bees.
One great thing about cracking into this business is the
little starting costs compared to the returns at the end. The first task in
beekeeping is getting an appropriate land. Once the area is set, you should
acquire essential items like bee suits, smokers and veils.
2. Dairy farming
Many people get into dairy farming in Kenya as it is one of
the most fruitful agribusinesses in the country. Kenyans love taking milk tea
and other dairy products. The price of a litre of milk is relatively high in
Kenya, although this varies in different parts of the country.
A litre of milk ranges from Ksh. 60 to Ksh. 100. Processed
milk is even more expensive, having a price
range of between Ksh. 40 to Ksh. 60 for half a litre. Farmers sell
their milk to dairies and milk factories, and so it is guaranteed that there is
a steady market throughout.
3. Hass avocado farming
Hass avocado farming is another sought after agribusiness in
Kenya. Kenya produces about 15,000 metric tons of avocado every year, catering
for both local markets and exports. Hass avocado farming and other local
varieties like Fuerte and the Pinkerton do well for both small scale and large
scale farmers. Hass avocados are the best to start with as they take about 3 to
4 years to mature.
One Hass avocado seedling goes for about 150 Kenya
shillings. Planting about 200 avocado seedlings in a land slightly large than
an acre will give immense earnings once the fruits mature. The price of an
avocado fruit usually ranges from 10 shillings to 30 shillings depending on
factors such as grading.
4. Fish farming
Many Kenyans enjoy eating fish. Unfortunately, the past few
years have seen huge water bodies like Lake Victoria, Lake Naivasha and other
fresh-water lakes have a decrease in fish. The reduction of fish has, however,
not reduced the demand for fish in the Kenyan market. Fish farming is a
profitable business if you understand the basics.
The most crucial things to consider are the species of fish
you want to keep a good source of water and an ideal location for your farm. Ensure
that you get fresh fingerlings for a smooth start.
5. Livestock house construction
Poultry farmers, dairy farmers, and all farmers, in general,
need housing for their livestock and structures for storing farm produce.
Livestock house construction is one business that has few people doing it. This
is because most farmers prefer hiring other people to make farm structures for
them.
Livestock house construction is among the best agribusiness
ventures in Kenya if you have carpentry skills and are artistic. You do not
need a lot of capital to start this business. You will only need a few tools
and an idea on the type of structure fit for particular farmers, and you are
good to go.
6. Pig farming
Pork is one of the most loved white meats in Kenya. Pork
sale almost does as good as beef. Rearing pigs is not as tasking as some may
imagine. To start, look for the best breeds that you can comfortably keep and
those that have a high reproduction ability.
The most common pig breeds around include landrace
Hampshire, the large white, and duroc. The demand for pork and other pig
products is high in Kenya, giving you one of the most excellent agribusiness
opportunities in Kenya. While selecting the pig to rear, remember to choose the
right sizes if you want to sell them in the future.
7. Fertilizer distribution
Many people are hesitant to venture into the fertilizer
distribution business as it is majorly controlled by government entities. This
should not scare you as fertilizer distribution is one of the rare untapped
markets. This business does not require much capital, unlike other agricultural
sectors.
The main concerns should be to find quality fertilizer, get
suppliers, inquire about factory pricing and get the quotation. Connecting with
manufacturers is not too difficult if you ask around. You can also help in the
delivery of fertilizers to farmers in rural parts of Kenya.
8. Vegetable farming
When planting, consider the soil around your farm,
vegetables that do well in most seasons, the cost of planting and the cost of
production. Some vegetables cost less and are easy to plant but when it comes
to selling they bring you little profits. Mushrooms are great plants to invest
in. One advantage of mushrooms is that they take a small space to plant and
require little effort to plant.
Mushroom farming is a lucrative business to start with 50K
in Kenya. Mushrooms are among the most expensive vegetables in Kenyan
supermarkets, grocery stores, and open markets. Other profitable greens include
collard greens, cabbages, kales, spinach, pumpkin vegetables, and cilantro.
9. Fresh juice
Drinking fresh juice on a hot sunny day or for breakfast is
healthy and delightful. The recent past has seen mass awareness of the benefits
of fresh juice compared to processed juice. This has increased the demand for
the product in the market. There are dozens of fruits you can sell that provide
different nutritional values.
Some of the fruits that do well in the Kenyan market include
oranges, pineapples, mangoes, passion, beetroots, sugarcane, bananas, avocado,
watermelon, and the papaya. Setting a stall for selling fresh juice is an
excellent way of making money. You can also plant the fruits and look for juice
vendors that you can sell to.
10. Tree tomato (Tamarillo) farming
The peak production of tree tomato ranges from 3 to 6 years.
This depends on a variety of factors like the cultivar. Tamarillo has a life
expectancy of about 12 years. The fast-growing tree is a rare goldmine for many
Kenyan farmers. Tamarillo can be grown in almost every soil type and climatic
condition.
The tree grows up to 2-5 meters high, forming one upright
trunk with lateral branches. Tamarillo farming is an excellent money-making
investment that only requires little resources to start especially for those
who do not know how to start an agribusiness.
11. Bull rearing
The average bull fully matures in about two years. Bull
rearing is an excellent investment as it provides excellent meat and semen for
artificial insemination. Dual-purpose breeds like Sahiwal, Simmental, East
African Zebu, and the Boran have quality meat. Beef production is also sourced
from other beef breeds like Hereford, Charolais or Angus.
Breeds that have premium semen include Red cliff, Danshot,
Red Torpedo, Montreux, Broekhuizen Bart, and Heuvel Bulykin. To have
exceptional bulls, ensure that they ingest decent feeds, have a good housing
structure and take enough water. Several agribusiness incubators in Kenya also
offer guidance on bull rearing.
12. Poultry farming
The demand for chicken will never decrease thanks to the
many fast food joints across towns in Kenya. Poultry farming is one of the most
popular agribusinesses in Kenya due to the significant profits this type of
farming has. Poultry farming offers both meat and eggs.
You can also keep ducks and geese together with the chicken.
This is a business that you are guaranteed to make money with little resources
if you are thinking about investing in agribusiness. Other than the fast-food
joints, other areas that need products from poultry farmers include schools,
bakeries, restaurants, and supermarkets. Farmers have the option of having free
bread chicken, commonly known as kienyeji, or broilers.
13. Agricultural consultancy services
Many people want to get into agriculture or get information
about products but do not know where to start. If you are well versed in
everything in the agricultural sector, setting up a consultancy firm would be a
prudent decision that would make you good money.
Your knowledge and experience in agriculture will help many
people get to be informed as you charge for the information on how to invest in
agribusiness in Kenya. You can offer your services to both farmers and
institutions that seek to invest in agriculture. All you need to do is register
with the necessary government bodies.
14. Animal feed production
Poultry, dairy, pig, goat and sheep farmers need feeds for
their animals. Producing animal feeds is easy and one of the most profitable
agribusiness ideas in Kenya, especially if you have your materials like bean
barns, silage, lucerne, hay, maize stalks, and napier grass. You can arrange
with local farmers and sell the surplus feeds once you have produced feeds for
your animals.
You can make the prices affordable to attract more farmers.
The average bag of layers marsh goes for around Ksh. 2500 - 3000 while a bag of
the marsh for dairy cows goes for around Ksh. 1000 - 1500. If you can produce
more than ten bags daily, then you will make some good cash.
15. Sheep and goat farming
The labour for sheep and goat rearing is not as demanding as
bull rearing. Sheep are kept for their meat and wool while goats are kept for
their milk and meat. Those are not the only benefits as the animals also
produce manure that you can use on your land or sell to other farmers.
Goat meat, lamb, hogget, and mutton are more expensive than
beef in Kenya, therefore, making them more valuable. Agribusiness success
stories from sheep and goat farming have on several occasions been featured on
the media to encourage those that have little capital and want to venture into
the business.
Like many other sectors, agricultural businesses have their challenges. Before your business starts running, get to acquire a few entrepreneurial skills and draft a plan to help you analyze the market. The good news is that most agribusiness ideas in Kenya rarely fail even for rookies. If stuck, you can go to the many recruiting agencies for farmers that offer labour, and agricultural institutions that can guide you on the most ideal agribusiness you can start.