How a poultry farm became a successful business

Aleta Chuko, Ethiopia (ILO News) - Tinsaye Kifle is the proud owner of Jewata Poultry Farm, located in the heart of Aleta Chuko Wereda, Ethiopia. With the support of ProAgro Ethiopia project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Tinsaye started as a small poultry business, which has transformed into a thriving enterprise, thanks to the ILO’s Improve Your Business (IYB) training programme.

Initially, Tinsaye’s business focused exclusively on raising chickens for 45 days before selling them. However, this limited her product range and customer base. She faced challenges such as low profits from selling young chickens at lower prices and failing to maximize the chickens’ full potential, such as egg production.

Everything changed when I participated in the IYB training programme. The training opened my eyes to new possibilities and strategies for my poultry farm. 

Tinsaye Kifle

One of the most significant changes was the introduction of egg production, which created an additional income stream beyond selling meat. Tinsaye also began selling day-old chicks, catering to other poultry farmers and further diversifying his revenue sources.

Through Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) experience-sharing sessions, Tinsaye gained insights into best practices in poultry farming, including breeding, feed management and disease prevention. She also learned market access strategies, that helped her establish connections with hotels and other potential buyers for eggs and day-old chicks.

The IYB programme equipped me with essential business management skills. I learned techniques for budgeting, tracking expenses, and maximizing profits, as well as strategies for reaching new customers and selling my products more effectively. 

Tinsaye Kifle

Empowered by the training, Tinsaye diversified her products and services, increasing her income streams. She now sells mature chickens at higher prices per kilogram, generated revenue from egg sales, and supplies day-old chicks to other poultry farmers. These innovations have improved her profit margins and positioned Jewata Poultry Farm for sustainable growth.

Today, Jewata Poultry Farm stands as a beacon of success and inspiration in the region. Tinsaye’s journey demonstrates that with the right training and support, small businesses can overcome challenges, unlock new opportunities and achieve growth.

The ILO ProAgro Ethiopia project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Cooperation and Development (BMZ). 

Watch this video to see how ProAgro Ethiopia is empowering small and micro-enterprises to thrive and create sustainable livelihoods in the agro-processing sector in Ethiopia.