Broiler clinic: Pietermaritzburg, it's your turn!

PHOTOS: More than 30 people attended Food For Mzansi’s recent farmer clinic in Pretoria. Next up, the same workshop for beginner and future chicken farmers will be held in Pietermaritzburg

Organisers of Food For Mzansi’s popular broiler production farmer clinics have announced that the Pietermaritzburg workshop will now be held on Saturday, 23 April. Beginner and future chicken farmers can register online or via WhatsApp.

Last Saturday, more than 30 attendees ascended on Cullinan, east of Pretoria, for the one-day training session presented by well-known nutritionist, farmer and trainer, Dr Ethel Zulu. Attendees ranged from attorneys to budding agripreneurs who are now seeking future possibilities in small-scale farming.

The workshop, presented by the Farmer’s Inside Track Academy, touched on all aspects of broiler production, including mortality, business models, and access to markets. With the experience of working for the department of agriculture and being a board member of the Joburg Market, Zulu shared rare insights and tips with attendees.

More than 30 beginner and future chicken farmers recently attended Food For Mzansi’s broiler production farmer clinic in Cullinan, east of Pretoria. Photo: Funiwe Ngwenya/Food For Mzansi

Learning from an expert

Among the attendees were the Lahree brothers, Afzal and Adam, who own 4.5 hectares of land in Limpopo. They plan on starting their own broiler farming project to turn their land into a profitable business.

“We came to the workshop to avoid mistakes that were made by others, because if you get into something without the knowledge and proper training, you run the risk of losing a lot of money,” says Afzal.

Food For Mzansi readers Afzal and Adam Lahree attended the broiler production farmer clinic as a first step to growing their agribusiness. Photo: Funiwe Ngwenya/Food For Mzansi

Afzal adds that the workshop furthermore gave them a platform to network. He describes Zulu as “experienced, open, honest and sharing her everyday experience, which means a lot to us”.

Zulu emphasises that it takes personal determination for farmers to journey from being a beginner to a commercial-scale farmer. “You must tell your friend ke tla le bona when you start a broiler business because your chickens will know, ‘oh this one is just expecting income’, and that will make you lose money.”

With a BCom in his pocket, Kgabo Ralebipi now has his eyes set on broiler production. He was among the trainees at a recent farmer clinic presented by the Farmer’s Inside Track Academy. Photo: Funiwe Ngwenya/Food For Mzansi

Kgabo Ralebipi, a 23-year-old BCom graduate, was the youngest attendee. As an up-and-coming cattle farmer, he dreams of building a life which would allow his mother to retire early.

“I can’t wait to tell my father ‘I know more than you,’” jokes Ralebipi.

Late registrations are now accepted for the broiler production farmer clinic in Pietermaritzburg. Click here to register for the workshop, or go to farmersinsidetrack.co.za. You can also send a WhatsApp to 071 147 0388. The registration fee of R1 950 includes training as well as mentorship by an experienced farmer.