Area 24 Entrepreneur Turns Farming Venture into Success Story
The young entrepreneur, known as Chilunga, found inspiration in his late father, a prosperous businessman.
Lilongwe, Malawi - While many young men are grappling with the challenges of finding formal employment, a 31-year-old from Area 24 has embraced the path of entrepreneurship, offering jobs to five individuals at his venture, Ellard Farms. Here, he is successfully raising more than 30 pigs, writes Christopher Jimu.
The young entrepreneur, known as Frank Chilunga, found inspiration in his late father, a prosperous businessman.
"I was motivated by my dad, who will always be my role model. He stood by me through thick and thin. Even though I failed my Business Administration exams at Lilongwe Technical College, he always encouraged me to explore entrepreneurship," Chilunga says.
Chilunga initiated his journey with only three pigs, having sold more than thirty hides to Chinese nationals residing in Area 15.
He asserts that the proceeds from the hide sales, which amounted to over K60,000, enabled him to purchase the initial set of pigs.
"I used to buy hides from abattoirs and sell them to Chinese nationals. At one point, I earned around K60,000, which was sufficient to kickstart my pig farming venture in 2020. Three years later, the pig population started to multiply, and today, I have over 30 pigs, with the business proving to be highly profitable," Chilunga proudly states.
In addition to selling pork, Chilunga has expanded his business to include the production of pork sausages.
"The pork sausages have become immensely popular, often selling out quickly. I want to encourage other young men to leverage their talents and venture into entrepreneurship rather than waiting for the government or other companies to employ them," Chilunga advises.
Chilunga further urges the youth to adopt qualities of hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
"Academic setbacks should not spell the end of one's dreams. Many young men lose focus due to distractions such as addictions. These days, many young men engage in destructive behaviours like drug and alcohol abuse, which can ultimately ruin their careers," Chilunga reasons.
Chilunga is married and has one child.