Robert Macharia began his agribusiness journey in 2012 with just two goats. He had a simple mission of having milk supply for his family. But a decade later, this venture has blossomed beyond his wildest expectations.
As he enjoyed milk from the two goats, Macharia spotted an opportunity. For many years, he served as the director of Mwihoko Dairy Goat Farm in Githurai, Kiambu County. After receiving numerous customer inquiries for milk, he saw the untapped potential that goat milk had in his area and decided to to expand his livestock venture.
Macharia’s goat farming has grown to total of 82 dairy goats. With the goats producing over 70 litres of milk daily, his supply is always in demand at the nearby Githurai market due to its large population and and proximity to Nairobi city.
He says he feeds his goats with a mixture of dairy meal, lucerne, and boma rhodes grass to maintain high production of milk. While his farm is small, Macharia underscores the importance of strategic planning for successful urban farming.
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“It’s all about passion when starting an agribusiness. The same motivation that drove me from the beginning is what has brought me this far,” he says. “We must remember to feed our animals for quality, not quantity. It’s about providing the necessary nutrients for their bodies, not just filling up their stomachs.”
Macharia has structured his goat pens into specialiseds clusters for various growth stages and has acquired both the German and French Alpine breeds of goats for intentional breeding purposes.
Mwihoko Dairy Goat Farm was awarded a top spot at the 2023 Nairobi International Trade Fair, further establishing itself as a leading urban farm in the country, and giving hope to up and coming farmers like Macharia. According to Macharia, farmers interested in urban dairy goat farming should transition their mindset from traditional methods to smart farming.
He advises them to see themselves as entrepreneurs entering the agri-business industry rather than just farmers. By adopting this approach, Macharia believes anyone can be successful in goat farming.
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