From a backyard startup to a growing poultry enterprise, Ramokone Kwakwa is making a name for herself. Her New Dawn Poultry Farm has faced challenges from hailstorms to rising feed costs, however, her dedication and innovative strategies have kept her business thriving.
Her success has not come easy. While pursuing her education, Kwakwa recognised the harsh reality of high unemployment rates in South Africa.
Rather than waiting for job opportunities, she took matters into her own hands, investing in poultry farming with her allowance to create a sustainable income and contribute to the local food system.
Starting from scratch
Based in Moletjie Limpopo, Kwakwa’s farming journey began in October 2020 with no prior experience. Kwakwa studied for a diploma in public affairs and administration of state at the Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Polokwane campus. While her studies focused on governance and administration, she developed a strong interest in entrepreneurship and business management, which eventually led her to poultry farming.
“I became aware of the challenges graduates face in finding employment. Instead of spending my bursary allowance on daily expenses, I saw an opportunity to invest it in something long-term,” she says.
Recognising the ever-growing demand for poultry products, she started small with a few broilers in her backyard. Over time, she expanded into layer production, shifting her focus to table eggs, which now serve as the backbone of her business.
“Currently, I am farming with both broilers and layers. However, my primary focus is on egg production, as the demand for table eggs is high and stable.”
Building a diverse client base through marketing
Her farm is now home to hundreds of layers, but her vision extends far beyond her current operations. Kwakwa has ambitious plans to scale up to over 50 000 egg-producing hens in the coming years, ensuring she meets the growing market demand.
Since starting, Kwakwa has received support from various organisations, including the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Polokwane municipality, Core Energy Incubation Program, and Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (Sefda). She was also one of the top 17 winners of the 2025 Limpopo Hollywood Foundation Bambela Business Award, receiving a R40 000 grant.
These investments and grants have been instrumental in scaling up her business. “The funding has helped me improve farm infrastructure, increase production capacity, and enhance marketing efforts. Transitioning from a backyard operation to a fully developed farm would not have been possible without these financial boosts,” she says.
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The New Dawn Poultry Farm has built a diverse client base, supplying households, spaza shops, bakeries, local butcheries, shisanyamas, and bulk buyers. To remain competitive, Kwakwa has focused on branding and customer service to differentiate her business.
She attributes her success to strategic marketing, leveraging social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X to showcase her products. Word-of-mouth referrals have also played a crucial role, with satisfied customers spreading the word about her high-quality eggs.
Keep growing despite challenges
The road to success has not been without obstacles. Kwakwa has faced significant challenges, including climate change, rising feed costs, and intense market competition.
“Some of the biggest challenges I have faced include climate change. Hailstorms destroyed my chicken house roof, leading to the loss of stock in both broilers and layers. I had to reinvest my profits and rebuild the structures to keep my business going,” she says.
She also highlights the burden of rising poultry feed costs. “To manage this, I constantly look for cost-effective feeding strategies without compromising quality,” she says.
Despite these hurdles, Kwakwa has remained resilient, employing innovative strategies to keep her business growing.
“In the coming years, I plan to expand the New Dawn Poultry Farm into a large-scale operation.”
Kwakwa’s goals include increasing production to over 50 000 eggs per day, building five more poultry houses, supplying national retailers with high-quality eggs, employing more than 50 people from her community, and launching training programs to educate and empower aspiring poultry farmers.
Her ambition is not just to grow her business but also to uplift her community by creating employment opportunities and knowledge-sharing platforms.
Words of wisdom for aspiring farmers
For those looking to follow in her footsteps, Kwakwa offers valuable advice: “Start small but think big, don’t wait for the perfect moment. Use what you have and grow from there,” she says.
She stresses the importance of resilience and learning. “Be patient and persistent, success doesn’t happen overnight. Challenges will come, but you must stay committed to your vision. Invest in knowledge, learn about poultry farming, attend training programs, and connect with experienced farmers.”
Additionally, Kwakwa highlights the importance of marketing and using social media to attract customers, reinforcing that branding is key to business success.
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