Mackendy Bonhomme, an Inspiring Young Man

Mackendy Bonhomme is one of Vallue's young people who embodies the approach of a bird building its nest: « Piti piti, zwazo fè nich li » (Little by little, the bird builds its nest). Born in Vallue in July 1994, he is the son of Edner Bonhomme and Manicia Zéphirin. He is the 4th of 6 children, including 3 girls and 3 boys. He completed his philosophy studies in 2014. He lives in Vallue, 12th section of Petit-Goâve. From the age of 7, he developed a great passion for raising chickens and goats. As an adult, he prioritized raising broiler chickens and indigenous chickens, which, according to him, are more accessible. He started his business in 2019 with 60 chicks, which he named « La Différence Poulailler » (The Difference Poultry Farm). It has grown progressively and now, 6 years later, boasts 1,000 broiler chickens and 600 indigenous chickens raised for laying. This represents an average annual growth of 4.44%.

He is both a breeder and a seller. His motorcycle serves him in both capacities. Chickens, eggs, and droppings are the three products of his business. His market covers a territory of approximately 50 km, from Miragoane to Léogane. He sometimes sells his products in the markets of Les Cayes and Carrefour. The price per unit of a 45-day-old chicken varies, depending on the period, from 1,250.00 Gourdes to 1,500.00 Gourdes. This brings him an average annual turnover of one million Gourdes. This income is supplemented by the sale of droppings, priced at 500.00 to 600.00 Gourdes per bag.

To start, he participated in a tontine (« sol » in Creole) and received a loan from a mutual society. Both allowed him to invest one hundred thousand Gourdes in the building, equipment, and the 60 chicks. He feeds them with imported and local feed (grains). He purchased the feed and medication in Gressier. The major challenges encountered are related to political instability and insecurity, hindering his movements to buy feed and sell his chickens. Furthermore, he faces difficulties in terms of water and wood chip supply. The distance of the business from the market leads to high transport costs that erode his profit margin. Sometimes, he records losses due to cases of seasonal illness (diarrhea). However, these are minor, thanks to local treatments based on leaves and imported antibiotics.

In this activity, his worst experience was buying poor quality chicks and feed, which caused losses. His greatest satisfaction is an increasing demand, especially during the Easter period. This allows him to sell quickly, massively, and at a reasonable price. It also involves buying good quality chicks (weight, normal health). According to him, this business is the best experience of his life. It serves him both as a stress reliever and a means to meet people from different social backgrounds. That is why he invites and encourages other young people to invest in such an activity or similar income-generating ventures.