20 Apr 2020

As the COVID -19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on economies, affecting people’s livelihoods, a small poultry farmer in Moshupa has decried that the extreme social distancing has affected her poultry business.

The farmer, Ms Obakeng Motlhabani of Itsoseng ward decried a sudden steep decline with very low profit margins, which she said could result in collapse of her business as she could no longer afford feeding her layer chickens.

The 38-year- old noted that she had never experienced such losses ever since she started the business in 2016.

To start the business, she was funded by the Department of Gender Affairs to the tune of P250 000 to purchase 400 layers.

She said that although every business had its ups and downs, all hope was now lost as the COVID-19 pandemic was a worldwide crisis.

Ms Motlhabani noted that she earned a living through selling to individuals at the shopping malls, and now that movement was restricted, the sales had dropped.

She however noted that she was hopeful that social workers would consider her request to include eggs to be part of the food relief package given to those who are said to be economically affected by the lockdown.

“As a mother of two, I am unemployed and fully reliant on the layers for a living. It has been difficult now as I can no longer afford to maintain my family,” she said.

She admitted that the COVID-19 pandemic was a set-back on her life and that of her family but was hopeful government would help. ENDS