Kiambu youth sees past visual impairment to build rabbit breeding enterprise

With over 800,000 rabbits nationally, most kept by smallholders with fewer than ten rabbits, the potential for commercial expansion is immense. [File, Standard] At first glance, Kamau Kalisto's bustling rabbit farm in Kimende town, Lari Sub-county, Kiambu County, looks like any other successful agribusiness enterprise. But behind the wooden cages and feeding troughs lies a remarkable story-Kamau, the founder and manager of Kamau Rabbit Farm, is visually impaired. Kamau lost his sight in 2013 at the age of 19. Rather than let this define his future, he made a bold choice. With just two does and one buck, he launched a rabbit farming venture that now supports his livelihood, education, and growing reputation as one of Kenya's most reliable rabbit breeders. "I held a self-meeting," he says with a chuckle. "I asked myself, 'What can I do to be independent and provide for myself?' I did the research and found rabbit farming was low-cost and high-return." Today, Kamau's farm has over 300 rabbits, with a capacity of 500. He has built a fully-fledged business, offering meat, breeders, organic foliar fertiliser from rabbit urine, and training services. He also constructs self-cleaning cages, which he designs himself despite his blindness. Kamau explains the rabbit business with clarity and precision. "The gestation period for a rabbit is 28 to 32 days. One female can give birth to seven to 13 kits per litter," he says. "I started with just two females. Say each gives birth to 10 kits-now you have 20. If 15 of those are females, they can also start breeding in about five months." By the time the second generation starts reproducing, the numbers grow exponentially. "Those 15 does, each giving 10 kits, give you 150 rabbits in one cycle. It's a business of multiplication." This growth potential is what Kamau uses to guide clients through business projections. "In four and a half months, a rabbit can reach 2.5kg and be sold for meat. The meat fetches between Sh450 and Sh700 per kilo, depending on the buyer." Kamau supplies individual clients, brokers, and institutions and runs a reliable network with other farmers to meet large or export orders. "I supply ten rabbits monthly to a consistent client. And when there's a bulk order, I involve my network to maintain quality and consistency." One of Kamau's secrets to success is his focus on quality breeds. "The better the breed, the faster the growth and the bigger the body size," he says. "I rear giant breeds because they are more profitable." Among the breeds at Kamau's farm is the New Zealand White, distinguished by its pure white colour with pink eyes and known for large litters and fast growth. Others are California White - similar to New Zealand but with dark markings on the ears, nose, and tail; the Chinchilla - greyish in colour, with a good meat-to-bone ratio; and the Palomino - a golden-coloured breed, visually appealing and good for meat. He also keeps the Checkered Giant and Havana, larger-sized, especially suited for commercial meat production, and the Angora breed, kept more for ornamental value due to its long, wool-like fur. Kamau is particularly strict about avoiding inbreeding. "Inbreeding lowers immunity and reduces body size. I've designed my cages to help avoid it. All my rabbits are giants, not dwarfs," he adds. Kamau's story is not just about farming-it's also about self-empowerment. He used proceeds from his farm to pay for a diploma in education and now also serves as a counsellor and mentor. "My training helps me guide others. Farming is not just about the animals; it's about mindset," he says. "Many young people gave up. I stayed focused. Today I'm known as an exporter." Kamau's journey reflects the growing interest in rabbit farming across Kenya. With over 800,000 rabbits nationally, most kept by smallholders with fewer than ten rabbits, the potential for commercial expansion is immense. However, Kamau notes the challenges. "As a disabled farmer, I've never received government support. I was once taxed nearly three-quarters of my earnings when exporting rabbits," he recalls. "The government talks of empowerment but doesn't walk the talk." He urges county governments to establish local processing facilities to support farmers and stabilise prices. "There's demand, but not enough supply. If we had a rabbit processing unit here in Lari, we could meet both local and export demand." Kamau's enterprise also includes collecting and packaging rabbit urine-an organic foliar fertiliser. "It controls pests and boosts flowering," he says. "I collect up to 20 litres a day and sell it at Ksh 100 per litre." He also builds rabbit cages for other farmers. "I may not see, but I understand the structure. I guide clients on design, construct the cages, and train them from scratch." To fellow youth and aspiring farmers, Kamau has a simple message: "Start small, think big, and never give up. There is money in rabbits, but only if you do it right. Get the right breeds, feed well, and be consistent. You'll never complain about the market if your product meets the standard."

Kiambu youth sees past visual impairment to build rabbit breeding enterprise

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