09 Nov 2015

Mr Nlisi Mannathoko of Masunga threw in the towel in his eight year old poultry business due to the lack of a market. In an interview, Mr Mannathoko,44, stated that he gave up tendering in 2013 as he was unable to find a suitable market for his products.

He opened his poultry business with the help of Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) in 2005 and he managed to buy about 4 000 chickens with the hope that his business will excel and make a profit because by that time there were a few poultry businesses in Masunga.

He said the market that he targeted only ordered their chickens and eggs from well-known farms and they were ignored.

“I then gave up and started selling in the streets of Masunga even though I did not yield any results, I only made losses,” he added.

His poultry is no longer operating and he is not certain when it will resume operation. 

He said he was now only interested in franchising with other established businesses and that he would fight hard to make sure that this time around his dreams turn into a reality.

Mr Mannathoko said that selling in the streets came with disadvantages because people bought on credit and failed to pay while some paid half the amount.

He said although challenges are always expected in a business, he could not stand the heat because he did not expect the business to be how it was.

He encouraged those willing to start small businesses to secure markets first before their business go down and also encouraged Batswana to support and recognise them.

 

“Running a small business is an exciting venture, however, with the great rewards come great risks that can lead small businesses to financial failures.” Ends