Poultry farm excels outside Ohrigstad
A dream to create job opportunities for women is at the centre of this farm.
Balebetse Poultry Farming has been excelling in producing chickens for the people of Fetakgomo Tubatse. The farm is based in Phiring, Malaeneng, just outside Ohrigstad. It is owned by Balebetse Portia Mdluli (45). “I was inspired to start a poultry business because it has always been my dream to empower women, especially young ones from my village,” said Mdluli, who is a qualified electrical engineer.
“A lot of these young women never got a chance to further their studies. I am offering them jobs and skills so they can provide for their families. As a mother and wife, my dream was ignited and sparked during the Covid-19 pandemic when I realised that local communities from rural areas travel long distances to neighbouring towns just to get basic food for their household.”
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Mdluli said her biggest lesson and challenge since embarking on her poultry journey, was discovering that about 70% of the overall cost of poultry production goes to feed. “Knowing your target market, and at the same time being able to process and package your end product, is of critical importance. If you don’t know who will be buying your live chickens, you need to feed them continuously, and that results into a financial loss,” said Mdluli.
She said some of the hiccups for farmers in the rural areas are a lack of land, clean water and backup electricity supply. “Without these three aspects, you cannot grow in commercial farming, which means you will remain a small-scale farmer. Access to wider markets is also a serious challenge.”
She indicated that her target markets are stokvels, initiation schools, traditional healers, community functions, funerals, wedding, parties, church ceremonies, school functions and Sassa pay points. “I was able to penetrate these markets because all my current employees are locals. Word of mouth and social media are also being used. Delivery services that I offer, also assist.”
She thanked her family, including her husband, whom she indicated supports her with farming ideas and finance “I have a supportive family. My son, Phetogo, and my sister, Tumelo Moletsane, help with business planning, business models and branding.” Mdluli highlighted that she would like to see Balebetse Poultry Farming expanding into a commercial farming operation in the next three to five years.
“What I love most about poultry farming is raising day-old chicks to fully grown chickens. My motto is ‘raising chicks to chickens’. Seeing my community enjoying my chickens and contributing to the economy within my community is a dream come true.” She pleaded for government to support small farming projects. “Its support will improve the country’s economy by regulating the cost prices on feeds and supporting farmers with alternative methods, like solar systems, to deal with the impact of energy crisis in the farming space.” Balebetse Poultry Farming was opened in July 2022.
