An association of visionary young men based in Nkhotakota is using farming as a launchpad to success.
The association, operating under the name Tilimbike Youth Club is made up of young farmers who are cultivating crops such as Rice, Cassava, Maize and Sweet Potatoes.
Established in 2023, Tilimbike Youth Club has thrived into one of the best performing youth clubs in the district, turning farming into a full-time job.
The association’s leader Apatsa Frank Sapriano has indicated that the farmers decided to unite in quest to generate reliable income.
“At first, we used to do farming as individuals but we didn’t get enough returns, hence; the reason why we decided to put our resources together and establish a cooperative,” he said.
Sapriano said using resources the farmers put together, including land and farm equipment, the association started cultivating cash crops on a larger scale.
For the past two years, the group has managed to make an average profit of K15 million from the sale of Rice, Cassava and Maize.
“Even at the moment, we are able to cultivate several acres of maize, rice and vegetables on 40 acres of land we acquired,” said Sapriano.
With the profits earned from the farming, the group has managed to diversify by investing in bicycle taxi services, a barbershop and music burning centre.
“From the taxi business, we are making an average of K15,000 per day, K8,000 from the burning center and k9 thousand from the barbershop,” he added.
Going forward, the group plans to explore value addition in a bid to maximise it’s profits.
Agricultural expert Maggie Zaindi has commended the group, describing its exploits as commendable.
“It’s good to see youths substitute formal employment with entrepreneurship,” she said.
