Load-shedding causes blackout for chicken farm in Pienaar
Mduduzi Mondlane said he hopes to have his poultry business up and running as soon as he finds any kind of support.
Once his only source of income and creating employment opportunities in the Daantjie community, Mduduzi Mondlane’s poultry business in Daantjie, Pienaar has been badly affected by load-shedding.
Mondlane saw himself running the business at a loss when higher stages of load-shedding were implemented, especially in 2022.
He started this small business in 2018 after he was laid off from work as a welder.
“I have always been enthusiastic about farming, and I saw my dream becoming true when I managed to start this poultry business. Unemployment and lacking the means to sustain myself were the biggest drives to start.”
Mondlane said he built a shelter for the chickens at his home and managed to get 100 broiler chickens as a start-up.
“The demand grew, and I managed to get the layer chickens for egg production and extended the shelter. Business went well, that I even supplied chickens and eggs to some retailers. I got additional funding from the National Youth Development Agency and City of Mbombela Youth Development Fund to obtain an incubator for the eggs.”
The 31-year-old said as load-shedding continued at higher stages, much of the profits were used to buy diesel for the generator supplying power to the incubator.
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“Over time I could not keep the incubator running as it should, for at least 23 days. I recorded the biggest loss in November last year. About 8 000 eggs got rotten and I lost capital of R75 000. My heart was shattered.”
Mondlane added that he could not keep the two people he employed.
He said the recent stage 6 load-shedding delivered the last blow to his business. It remains shut down until he is able to reopen again.
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“Load-shedding will not stop me from achieving this dream. I enjoyed the little time I had rearing the chickens and creating job opportunities. I will achieve my dreams to make it in the agriculture sector in Mpumalanga,” Mondlane insisted.
