Graduate turns to poultry farming

Mathebula established his business, Khalanga Poultry, in December 2020 after his employment contract ended. “I had to start thinking out of the box in order to survive, as I had no one to support me financially. “I chose poultry farming because I saw a gap in the market in my area; there are not many young people who are doing what I’m doing. “To be honest, it was hard to start something from scratch without enough capital. In order to cut costs, I had to get my hands dirty by helping the people I hired to build me a broiler house,” he explained.

He told the Herald that although being an entrepreneur is not an easy way to make a living, he refuses to quit and become part of the unemployed graduate statistics. The young farmer says his inspiration to start the business, is to one day be able to finance his dream of owning a multimedia Xitsonga and Sepedi newspaper called ‘Sisimuka Borwa’. He has a BTech degree in journalism and is currently a Master’s degree candidate at Tshwane University of Technology’s Department of Journalism.

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He currently employs two people, of which one is a single mother. “My message to other young people is to start where you are with what you have. “Don’t wait for the government to rescue you, government and other institutions only meet you halfway Agri News. They finance and give assistance to people who have already started something and have something tangible to show.

“Don’t allow lack of money to stop you from attaining your dreams,” he added. Mathebula’s main challenge is the lack of funding. He says he has knocked on many doors for help but to no avail. He is selling broiler chickens both live and slaughtered but hopes to grow his business to a point where he sells 3000 chickens a month. For more information, contact Solomon on 0763167828 or email him at  Solomonia28@gmail.com.