From earning KSh 20,000 per month to leaving employment for entrepreneurship, Bernard Osunga’s journey is a testament to resilience in the face of adversity. Today, at 34 years old, he is proud of his accomplishments, having transformed challenges into success by establishing one of the largest turkey farms in Migori County.
Osunga’s path to entrepreneurship began in 2018 when he left his job to venture into the butchery and fast food business. Things were going well until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, severely impacting the business. Unable to meet rent payments and accumulating debts, Osunga faced a financial crisis.
“In the wake of the pandemic, my business collapsed. I couldn’t afford rent and found myself drowning in debt,” he recalled. “Things became so difficult that I had no choice but to sell my business to clear the growing debts.”
Despite his business being worth approximately KSh 500,000, Osunga sold it for just KSh 110,000 and used most of the money to pay off the debts. He was left with only KSh 30,000, which he invested into a new venture: turkey farming.
“I returned home with little to show for my efforts and began thinking about how I could support my family. I remembered that my grandfather used to keep turkeys, so I decided to give it a try,” Osunga shared.
He started with four turkeys—one male and three females—and, due to his limited funds, he had to graze them himself. By April 2022, the turkeys began laying eggs, providing Osunga with the means to reduce costs and expand his business.
From those four birds, he was able to hatch 40 chicks. Each turkey lays between 17 to 23 eggs, and Osunga sells them for KSh 350 each. His flock has since grown to over 100 birds.
According to Osunga, turkey farming is more cost-effective and yields better returns compared to chicken farming. For instance, turkeys consume primarily grass, which makes up about 75% of their diet, and they graze freely around the compound. In contrast, chicken eggs typically sell for KSh 20, while turkey eggs range from KSh 350 to KSh 500. Additionally, while a chicken costs KSh 300-400 at two months old, a two-month-old turkey can fetch KSh 1,500.
Osunga also makes extra income by selling his mature birds, which bring in between KSh 10,000 and KSh 15,000 per pair.
However, he cautions that while turkey farming can be lucrative, it also carries risks, particularly from diseases that can affect chicks in their early weeks. During this critical period, when they are fed chick mash and multi-vitamins, Osunga advises farmers on how to make do without expensive treatments.
“If you’re tight on money, you can boil aloe vera and pepper as a natural remedy,” he explained. By the fourth week, the turkeys are vaccinated for Newcastle disease, and by week seven, they receive the fowlpox vaccine.
Through hard work and perseverance, Osunga’s turkey farming venture has grown steadily, proving that with determination and adaptability, it is possible to thrive even after facing major setbacks.
