12 Jan 2020

Persistence continues to prove a deciding factor in success or failure of some business projects under the poverty eradication programme.

Speaking in an interview, Ms Roselyn Chibitswa, a 62 year old mother of three in Pilane, said she benefited from the programme in 2014 when she was given the laundry business.

Ms Chibitswa chose a laundry business because it did not require any license, qualifications or past experience to get started.

She stated that after the business started operating, she realised that most residents preferred doing their own laundry and some still had a cultural believe that no other woman could do one’s laundry, therefore, the business was not earning enough profit.

However, Ms Chibitswa said she persisted and made some savings and in 2016, she thought of a more quick winning business and decided to diversify into broiler chicken business.

“I needed a fast turnaround business that also generated good profits, hence the broiler chicken business,” she said.

When quizzed further about the turnaround times, Ms Chibitswa said the production cycle of broilers was much shorter than that of cattle, sheep and goats, which meant quicker income generation.

She indicated that from the savings of her laundry business, she built a chicken house and bought 200 chicks.

“In-spite of my limited knowledge about agri-business, I understood the essentials of running a business and I applied these principles immediately,” she continued.

Ms Chibitswa said switching to the broiler chicken business opened up opportunities to increase turnover. She joined the Kgatleng Poultry Association and never looked back.

“This presented me with opportunities to supply chickens to different organisations,” said Ms Chibitswa.

She noted that she had since opened a savings account and was able to save between P5000 and P8000 depending on profit generated. Ms Chibitswa also managed to buy four goats and wished to also increase her chicken house in order to accommodate more chicks.

Speaking on some of her challenges, Ms Chibitswa said lack of readily available suppliers of day old broiler chicks in surrounding areas was a problem.

She said this meant taking time to re- stock and in the process she lost good opportunities.

After a batch had been arranged to be dispatched, a week would be set aside to prepare the chicken house for the next batch.

“I start by removing everything in the chicken house, then the house and equipment is washed and disinfected before the new batch arrives and maintaining the correct temperature is very essential,” she said.

Ms Chibitswa further said she had covered the chicken house to reduce too much sunlight entering the coop and making it hot.

She also said the covering also helped to reduce cold temperatures during winter.

She noted that it was also equally important to carefully manage feeding patterns.

“If the birds eat too much, mortality could increase,” she explained, adding that this meant that their bodies could grow much faster than their organs, and they could suffer heart failure.

She said the chicks were fed according to a strict routine and made sure that they had enough rest.

Ms Chibitswa said observation also helps as she constantly makes sure to check in on them.

“The chickens’ behaviour shows if the temperature is not ideal. When the birds feel uncomfortably hot, they tend to move away from the feeders and cluster against the walls.

As a result, they do not eat enough. Conversely, when they are too cold, they huddle to warm themselves with their body heat. Again, they do not eat enough and sometimes get stressed and peck each other,” she said.

She indicated that she would forever be thankful to the poverty eradication programme because through the proceeds of the not so well performing laundry business she was able to diversify her business.

“Perseverance is the key to success,” she concluded. ENDS