22 Dec 2015

Mr Omphemetse Difatlhi is a testimony that government initiatives are fruitful.

Speaking in an interview at his poultry business in Gabane recently, he said the Tswana chicken breed that he started with the assistance of Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) has earned him a dignified life.

He said prior to owning Tswana chickens, he was unemployed and had no stable source of income, but that has since changed.

He was upbeat that the poultry business would give him flourishing profits and keep poverty at bay. 

“I heard about LIMID programme from a friend and we approached their offices for funding in 2012 and two years later my application was successful,” he explained.

 He said he was assisted with 25 Tswana breed chickens, poultry feeds, materials to build shelter as well as all the necessary vaccines.

Like any other business venture, especially in the infancy stages, Mr Difatlhi’s project was not without challenges.

“Soon after, I experienced an outbreak of a disease which nearly wiped out my entire stock despite the fact that I continuously vaccinated them accordingly,” he said.

However, the 29-year old soldiered on and remained committed to his business even though the outbreak delayed him from making his first sales. 

“Tswana chickens have a profitable market.  Even though I haven’t yet started selling, the bookings are already pouring in and I am confident that once I start selling they will really sell fast,” he said.

Mr Difatlhi’s poultry, which is situated at gooraKgatwane ward in Gabane, only a stone throw away from the bus rank has 23 chickens, 40 chicks.

He, however, expressed  wish to acquire a more spacious land in order to grow his business,

He said a Tswana chicken price ranged between P60 and P400, depending on the breed.

“I would like to urge the youth to venture into projects they know that they can afford to manage, that is only when their businesses can prosper,” he advised. Ends