28 Jul 2020

 What started as an investment in farming by Mr Ndinaye Chengeta turned out to be a good strategic move which is now benefitting other aspiring farmers.

With land being a hindrance for many who wish to venture into farming, Mr Chengeta of Chengeta Farm identified the need to assist aspiring farmers with land for rental.

Located along the Molepolole – Thebephatshwa road, the farm is structured to accommodate individuals who have small stock and poultry projects.

“I have enough land to accommodate 60 poultry projects and 20 small stock projects.

The housed livestock and poultry is provided with water, labour and night security,” he said in an interview.

A teacher by profession, Mr Chengeta who has since ventured into farming said his farm had 20 units for poultry projects in broiler production with a capacity to house 300 birds each and another unit with a capacity to house 100 layer chickens.

“The project owners are responsible for managing their projects, provide feed for their small stock and poultry and collection of eggs for those in layer projects,” said Mr Chengeta.

Regarding small stock, Mr Chengeta said the farm had 20 kraals for rental with a capacity to keep 50 goats or sheep.

The farm provides herd boy service to look after the tenants’ small stock. Mr Chengeta said the idea of opening up for rental to assist those interested in farming was an endeavour aimed at growing the sector.

He indicated that the intention was to empower Batswana to diversify the agricultural sector by exploring all potentials in its value chain.

He said by so doing, this would help generate income and sustain households as well as sustain the country in terms of food production.

Mr Chengeta said farming needed determination. “Let us use the available land to the best of our ability,” he said.

He explained that the farm was also expanding to grow livestock feed. He said the farm was growing napia grass to supplement the natural forage in the farm to sustain the livestock.

He said they also grew sunflower and pumpkins to feed the stock.

He emphasised the need  for  Batswana to work together to create wealth. He, therefore, urged the procurement  of local goods and services to grow the agriculture sector and local economy. One of those housed at Chengeta’s farm, Mr Kitso Malongwa of Molepolole said he has been renting the poultry unit since January.

He said his interest was poultry farming, adding that selling his first batch of chickens after six weeks motivated him.

Mr Malongwa  noted that the decision to rent a poultry house was motivated by the availability of reliable caretakers which means less worries for him on the days that he was not able to go to the farm.

He urged those who wished to venture into business especially during the COVID-19 era to not give up if things do not go well.  ENDS