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Canditar Chapanduka, Chronicle Reporter
A LUPANE teacher has ventured into a free-range chicken breeding project in Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo which has a capacity of supplying over 200 old Black Australorp chicks weekly.
Through his project, Mr Sandile Neville Sithole (33), a teacher at Mabhikwa High School has managed to raise funds to further his studies.
From being a holder of a teaching diploma, Mr Sithole managed to pursue his studies to a Master’s degree level using profits from his poultry project.
When he started poultry rearing in 2015, the chickens were primarily for domestic consumption. However, Mr Sithole later realised that there was a possibility of making money by venturing into the business of keeping road runners due to high demand.
“In 2020 I decided to do them for business as I realised there was a high demand for road runners. My visitors would prefer road runner meat to broiler meat,” he said.
Mr Sithole said he started the business with about 50 chicks, which he had bought from another breeder. Out of 50 chicks, only about 22 chicks survived up to maturity, but that never discouraged him from establishing the poultry business.
“I had to sell the chickens and I got a little profit from the 22 chicks then I bought 80 chicks with all the money that I got. Today, I have 60 mature black Australorp birds and 50 Sasso Sussex birds,” he said.
“The 60 black Australorp hens lay eggs and I pick them and do the incubation which takes 21 days and I get chicks which I then sell as day-olds.”
Mr Sithole said the demand is high and the business is going very well. He sells day-old chicks to farmers and individuals in Bulawayo and other places like Nyamandlovu, Esigodini and Matobo.
“I sell 200 chicks every week and I don’t run out of clients. The reason I resorted to this breed is that it can survive under some harsh conditions, unlike a broiler. Also, these have less labour compared to broilers because broilers are taxing so with these the profit is even higher,” he said.
Mr Sithole said since broilers have flooded the market, he saw it best to get another route that is not flooded.
He started with a smaller fowl run and the project expanded, he managed to construct a bigger one to accommodate more chicks.
“Through poultry rearing business profits, I have managed to take myself to university to further my studies. Ever since I started the business and realised that it’s profitable I took most of the profits and channelled them towards my studies,” said Mr Sithole.
“I managed to improve myself from being a holder of a teaching diploma attained at Hillside Teacher’s College and I got my first degree from the Great Zimbabwe University. Later, I enrolled for a Master’s degree at the National University of Science and Technology.”
Mr Sithole holds a Bachelor of Education Honours degree and a Master of Science Education in Accounting and Business Studies.
The money realised from his business has enabled him to build a big fowl run that can accommodate 500 chicks. He has also managed to change his family life and standards.
“I take my two siblings to one of the best schools in Bulawayo and I managed to extend our house in Cowdray Park where I’m staying. I got a personal car that I bought through this business,” said Mr Sithole.
He plans to register the business and get more market share as he will be exposed to large populations.
“I’m also looking forward to buying my own incubator so that I can maximise my profits and cut the cost of incubation. More so, I want to keep at least five different road runner breeds up to maturity stage and continue selling chicks,” said Mr Sithole.
“To expand my business I will also start selling broilers even though the market is already flooded so that I can cater for those who prefer broiler meat and have a larger market. Lastly, I want to have a section that will be for eggs only.”
Mr Sithole urged other degree holders to venture into income-generating projects.
“What they need is to start a small business and the business will later establish itself in the market and grow big. They will realise that doing more business if you are fortunate enough and dedicated is more profitable than being employed,” he said. -@NomqheleC
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