Maditsi’s high school hustle becomes promising poultry venture

Tshegofatso Maditsi, founder of Chego Farming Complex, first dabbled in agriculture in 2018 while still in grade 10. Fast-forward a few years, and he’s the founder of Chego Farming Complex, steadily building a poultry enterprise with hopes of scaling up and uplifting those around him.

“I started backyard farming with vegetables. It wasn’t just for food, I had a business in mind from the start,” says the Limpopo poultry farmer.

Unlike many of his peers, Maditsi didn’t wait to finish high school before pursuing his goals. He taught himself the basics of farming and went on to acquire formal training after matric.

To build his knowledge, Maditsi enrolled in various short agricultural courses, including horticultural protection and livestock production. “I trained through Thompi Seleka College of Agriculture, and later through the Enterprises University of Pretoria. The focus was on poultry and livestock entrepreneurship.”

These skills laid the foundation for what would soon become his primary source of income and community impact.

Starting with just spinach and onions in his backyard, Maditsi has grown his farming venture into a budding poultry enterprise with plans to expand. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

In 2022, after working as a general worker at a primary school for five months, Maditsi saved up enough money to launch his poultry business. “I used the money I earned to start with broilers. I saw an opportunity to create jobs and provide fresh chicken to my community.”

He began supplying broilers, 100 per cycle, increasing by 200 during peak seasons like Easter and December. His customers include local schools and households in his area.

“People in my community prefer fresh, traditionally raised chickens. I deliver it all myself with occasional hired help during peak seasons. It’s hard work, but it gets the job done.”

Expansion plans

Though the business is still small, Maditsi sometimes employs local youth to assist with deliveries and operations. “It’s not permanent work yet, but when there are many orders, I get help from people in the community.”

One of the biggest challenges he’s faced is climate-related. In December 2024, a devastating heatwave wiped out nearly 70 of his chickens. “It was painful, I’ve learned now to manage better, like slaughtering before extreme heat hits.”

Maditsi received some support from the department of rural development, which helped him scale up his operations. This support allowed him to invest in essential infrastructure and buy more chicks, feed, and equipment, giving him the ability to meet increasing demand, especially during high-volume periods like Easter and Christmas.

However, Maditsi isn’t stopping there.

With eyes set on long-term growth, he is currently working on preparing a three-hectare plot of land, where he plans to build poultry houses that will accommodate more than 3 000 chickens, including both broilers and layers.

Beyond increasing production, Maditsi envisions his expansion creating full-time employment opportunities for local youth and providing a steady supply of fresh poultry products to his community and nearby towns.

“I’m not just building a business, I’m building a future for others too,” he says. Maditsi is committed to establishing a community-based agribusiness in Limpopo that will improve food security locally and inspire entrepreneurship among the youth.

The power of learning and networking

For others who want to follow in his footsteps, Maditsi emphasises the importance of learning and networking.

“Farming is not simple. We must learn to communicate with other farmers and share information. Every day comes with new challenges. Visit as many farms as you possibly can and engage with other farms. It will get tough and there will be challenges along the way, but that won’t mean you should give up.”

Maditsi’s passion goes beyond profit. His mission is to uplift his community, reduce poverty, and prove that young people can succeed in agriculture.