Nephile Atieno, co-founder of Ecocud Limited based in Kisumu County, embarked on a journey driven by the need for affordable and sustainable solutions in poultry farming. Starting off as a chicken farmer, Nephile encountered challenges with rocketing feed costs, sparking her innovative venture to specialize in Black Soldier Fly production.
Starting with a modest daily production of 5kgs, Nephile realized a readily available market among livestock farmers within her community. However, unavailability of resources including breeding troughs hindered her potential to expand.
Through engagement with the Resilient Agriculture that Works for Young People (RAY) project funded by Mastercard Foundation in partnership with Practical Action Kenya, Nephile has received hands on training on business development, record keeping and other cost-effective regenerative agriculture technologies including Hydroponics and Vermiculture.
She has also participated in Agriculture forums (linkage sessions) which have contributed to increasing her customer base beyond Kisumu County. She is currently targeting fellow youths in the poultry value chain and produces 12kgs daily, with weekly sales reaching up to 100kgs.
"Through exposure to diverse groups, my public speaking skills have improved," she notes. "I can confidently pitch and seek funding for my business. I've also learned to manage personal and business finances effectively."
Recognizing the soaring demand and unable to meet all customer requests, Nephile has transitioned into mentorship, training over 50 youths to embark on a similar venture. Looking ahead, she plans to scale up production by constructing a bigger breeding facility.