By Thoboloko Ntšonyane
BEREA – With their collective passion and innovation, youth and women have vowed to carve a niche in the poultry market that will see them satisfying the local needs and export chickens to neighbouring countries.
These developments transpired at the poultry farmers training recently held in Berea.
They promised that the future of the poultry industry will soar if the government levels the playing field and puts in place business friendly regulations.
One of the trainees, Mpolokeng Mohapeloa said as youth, “We are filled with joy and pride regarding this training, particularly considering our country’s high unemployment rate. The skills we have acquired through this training will prove invaluable as we embark on our poultry business”.
She said they intend to generate employment opportunities for fellow young people.
Mohapeloa said they will not rely solely on the government to do something for them.
She urged the trainer to extend these training opportunities to other youth acting on them to seize opportunities such as this one.
For her part, Sebolelo Thobala said they will work hard to ensure that they satisfy the local market, saying they want the government to embargo chicken imports.
Thobala said they require assistance that would see them adhering to the regulatory standards similar to their counterparts in South Africa.
She requested a supportive legal framework that would empower them to prosper in this industry.
‘Maphamotse Lepheana also echoed similar sentiments, saying they want the government to embargo chicken imports.
She promised to implement what she had learned in the training appealing to the government to help them in enhancing their production.
Lepheana said they aspire to export chickens to the neighbouring countries.
The majority of participants were women drawn from places around the district of Maseru.
According to the TKM Agricultural Solutions, the training was aimed at equipping trainees with knowledge and skills on Poultry Production on both broilers and layers.
Participants were provided with training manuals, and covered the overall rearing content; such as Housing-Chick Placement and Brooding, Disease Management, Bio-Security, Medication, Feeding, Slaughtering, Packaging and Marketing.
TKM Agricultural Solutions Executive and trainer, Mr Ts’iu Malefane stated that poultry and eggs are the most widely eaten type of foods globally and they provide high-protein nutrients.
He pointed out that the high rate of consumption presents an opportunity for Basotho as far as commercial chicken meat and egg production are concerned.
Ts’iu encouraged the trainees to make use of these skills and utilize them in poultry farming, emphasizing that this practice can effectively reduce poverty and alleviate it, while simultaneously lowering the unemployment rate in the country. By engaging in poultry farming, individuals can become self-employed as farmers, while also generating employment opportunities for others.
“More importantly, participants are equipped with Commercial Broiler Layer Production that includes basic record-keeping and simplified financial management, marketing and selling, once their projects start. TKM Agri solutions provides support home and field visits to trained farmers. Further support is provided in sourcing and securing market[s] for selling the farmers’ poultry products,” said the trainer.