SAUTI YA MKULIMA- DENNIS
The analogy of telling the UNEMPLOYED graduates to “Start their own business”, is sometimes annoying. Not everyone is BUSINESS MINDED or capable of running a business. We cannot not communicate, the brighter and charming face of Dennis tells a story of success and fulfillment as we visit his farm in Athi River. The founder of Chicken Denn poultry firm tells a story of his poultry farm.
Having graduated with a degree in commerce and finance, securing a job was hard just like many graduates are facing in Kenya. Hustling was the only way out, with little pay which could not sustain his needs and working routine was enough for Dennis a young upcoming entrepreneur. Having tarmacked for 3 years self-employment was the only hope left.
‘Having only 12 times in 365 days to receive salary was a challenge to me ‘Dennis explains with a gloomy face as memories of his past raze his mind.’ I acquired a small loan and decided enough was enough, I thought keenly and decided a poultry farm could do well some of my close friends were not for the idea and advised me that poultry was a risky business. It takes courage to shake off, stand and wait for the worst or the best from the decision you make as a farmer.
With help from his family, he started his poultry farm with only seven chicken, a brighter future and passion for poultry kept him moving. Despite the high yield Dennis shares some of stupid mistakes he ever did that he would not wish any other farmer to do. We learn from other people mistakes and just like Dennis, to him, experience was the worst teacher. Lack of sufficient knowledge on how to carry business was a major throwback.
“Lack of enough capital to buy feeds made me use kitchen waste to feed my chicken. Last year, I noticed one chick with a certain disease, and just the digital world I only googled the signs without involving an agronomist, and the hell broke loose”. Dennis narrates how he lost over 300 chickens blindly due to his ignorance.
‘The pain of losing an investment, has taught me a lot. Just like we need doctors and security people in our lives it’s the same way chicken need an expert to monitor them daily’. At chicken Denn poultry farm Dennis sells chicks, incubation services to other local farmers who have no machines, fertilized eggs and broilers
Dennis draws his inspiration from the late Nelson Muguku the Kenyan chicken billionaire who started with less than 10 chicken. To him passion for chicken has always kept him ever since he started his farm 2 years ago. Being a member of Africa Farmers club has made him an informed farmer who now trains upcoming poultry farmers in his locality
Dennis Parting short.
Remain focused even after losses, it’s through mistakes that we rise and become the best and successful farmers.we are the solution to ending hunger in the world,food security should be our daily goal.
By: Patricia M Kombo
patriciah@africafarmers.org
