Poultry farmer undeterred by floods

KHONANI ONTEBETSE
Correspondent | Friday February 22, 2008 00:00

But when too much rainfall leads to crop and livestock destruction, farmers are left impoverished.

One farmer who understands this better is Tlokweng's Itumeleng Mabaka of Rich Melody Investment. Mabaka says the heavy rains that recently fell in the country nearly ruined her poultry business as egg production at her farm came to a standstill. 'During the heavy rains, my chickens did not lay eggs. At times I would find only cracked eggs,' she says. Mabaka explains that the layers need sunlight if they are to produce strong quality eggs.

'If there is no light, like during the past weeks when Tlokweng experienced torrential rains, output was low. I'm still running at a loss because I won't have enough eggs to sell,' she says.

She further explains that egg production is better during summer. Mabaka reveals that the layers also do not like thunderstorms and flashes, which scare them each time it rumbles. 'The recent heavy rains really affected us as the employees of Rich Melody investment.

We would leave the vehicle by the road and wade through the floods to the poultry farm. We had no option as we had to ensure that the business did not suffer much,' she says. She adds that at times they would find so much water in the poultry house it was difficult to conduct any business. The young farmer says she has two poultry houses accommodating at least 2,000 fowls. She started with one house, which accommodated 1,000 fowls and now the number has doubled because demand for eggs has increased.

'The other house was finished in September last year. I then placed an order for another 1,000 layers, bringing the number to 2,000,' she says.

She says she only makes her orders from South Africa through a Botswana based company called Feed Centre. Mabaka explains that the poultry industry in Botswana is risky because most of the requisites have to be imported from South Africa.

'If it happens that there is an outbreak of say, bird flu in South Africa then it means we will be affected as poultry farmers here in Botswana. We hope that such a catastrophe does not happen here.' 

The Tlokweng born woman explains that the layers become off layers after 12 months and then she starts culling.

'After 12 months I remove the unproductive from the flock. I have slaughtered 300 so far and I'm expecting to slaughter another 200. Then I will place an order of 500 to replace the ones I have culled,' she says.

She adds that her days of struggling to hire a delivery vehicle are over because her parents rescued her by buying her a delivery truck.

'I need extra hands when there is a lot of egg production,' she says. Mabaka explains that during holidays, when most of her customers close, she lowers prices to avoid incurring heavy losses. Her customers include restaurant and hotels owners. Mabaka says given the fact that Tlokweng is near Gaborone, her eggs are in very high demand.  Although she is facing stiff competition from bigger poultry farmers, she is not worried because she 'produces quality eggs' which customers snap up.

She buys layers' mash from South Africa to feed her fowls. 'The layers' mash I buy is of the highest quality because most of the time I get quality eggs with no cracks. And my fowls are always healthy,' she says. She explained that she always ensures that the feeds are labelled so she could sell excess stock. 'My ambition is to stock enough for my layers and then sell the rest to other poultry farmers. I hope to get a warehouse so I can streamline my business this year,' she says. The proud holder of the Kgalagadi Breweries Limited (KBL) Kick-start Award, who pocketed P99, 000, revealed that she spent part of the money on poultry feeds and the 1,000 fowls.

'I spent roughly P40, 000 to buy the 1,000 fowls and poultry feeds and treatments for the layers.' She explains that though poultry farming is demanding, it is profitable.  'Though the rewards come late and the job is taxing, at the end of the day the rewards are not too bad.'

Mabaka does not regard herself as the owner of Rich Melody Investment but part of the employees as she also draws a salary just like other employees.

She pays tribute to KBL, saying they gave her an opportunity to expand her business. 'They are proud of me and I am also grateful to them. I did not waste the opportunity they gave me,' she says.

Mabaka plans to reach customers throughout the country in five years' time. But what is her message to the youth? Perseverance, she answers, adding, 'farming is not for the old people. Anyone, including youth, who are determined to work hard, can succeed'.
(Sila Press Agency)