The Resilient Agriculture that Works for Young People (RAY Project), a collaboration between the Mastercard Foundation and Practical Action, is making significant strides in engaging and empowering young people in the agricultural sector. This initiative focuses on recruiting young people, particularly women and persons with disabilities, to pursue opportunities in agribusiness by shifting attitudes that hinder their participation.
The RAY Project aims to provide young people with the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed in the agricultural sector. The communication team has been instrumental in achieving these goals by documenting and sharing success stories and project activities across various platforms to reach targeted audiences. One such success story is that of Salim Ashiono, a 27-year-old entrepreneur making waves in Western Kenya with his innovative approach to affordable animal feed.
RAY Project Beneficiary Salim Ashiono: Pioneering Affordable Animal Feed Solutions in Western Kenya
Salim Ashiono, the founder of Aquasalim Ltd, is on a mission to reduce the high cost of animal feed for young farmers in Western Kenya. Hailing from Ikholi Village in Ikolomani Sub-County, Kakamega County, Salim has taken a unique approach to address this challenge by installing ponds to produce Azolla, a protein-rich plant that serves as a nutritious and cost-effective feed for poultry, fish, and cattle.
Azolla is a fast-growing plant that matures within 7 to 14 days, producing between 15 to 18 kilos of feed depending on the pond’s size. Remarkably, Azolla also regrows after harvesting, providing a sustainable source of feed. As more young farmers learn about Azolla’s potential as an affordable animal feed, the demand for Salim’s services has steadily increased. Currently, he installs four to six Azolla ponds each month.
“High cost of animal feeds is a major reason young people are not doing well in agribusiness. They can be as high as 70% of expenses. Fortunately, Azolla is one of the available solutions. It has great potential,” says Salim.
Salim discovered the opportunity to install Azolla ponds after joining the RAY Project. His primary clients are young agripreneurs within the program, particularly those in the poultry business. Beyond his installation services, Salim has also adopted the use of Azolla to feed his own 250 chickens, significantly reducing his feed costs.
In addition to his entrepreneurial efforts, Salim is committed to sharing his knowledge with his peers. He trains and mentors other young farmers on Azolla installation and usage, helping them understand how to make the most of this innovative feed solution. To cater to young people with limited land, he has also developed a free-standing Azolla unit that can be placed in small spaces, further broadening the accessibility of this solution.
Looking to the future, Salim is driven by his vision to unlock more opportunities for young people in farming by providing a range of affordable and nutritious feed solutions. Through his work, Salim is not only transforming his own business but also paving the way for a new generation of young farmers to thrive in agribusiness.
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