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DEEP in rural Gwanda in Masholomoshe area lives a determined entrepreneur who is defying the odds by making a living through breeding of chickens. Whereas many do well in rural settings rearing broilers, Mr Clement Nyathi (25)’s business is unique in that he is breeding rural chickens and doing it on business lines. He has up to 300 inkukhu zemakhaya at his homestead.
He is more commonly known around Masholomoshe as a camera person, so is making a name for himself doing something quite different. Mr Nyathi used the money he earned from photography to invest in his now thriving poultry venture, which has so many birds that only a few poultry producers with better resources and markets in urban areas can match. He uses his earnings to fend for his disabled mother, Mrs Phapha Nyathi (83) at Matshiya Village.
Before he ventured into photography and later poultry, Mr Nyathi, whose father died when he was still young, had no source of income. Through his chicken business he has managed to build a house for himself and the rest of the money supports his ill mother and to buy food.
His great work in the rural area shows the immense potential that lies almost unnoticed in remote parts of the country.
Mr Nyathi dropped out of high school due to lack of money to pay his fees, so his situation forced him to be innovative and come up with survival skills. He hopes to expand to urban areas.
“My father died long ago when I was at a younger age. Since then I took the responsibility to fill the gap which he left. It has been a challenge but in life you have to learn to stand on your feet. I collected money from my photography earnings and I started a business. I breed chickens for a living and that’s how I survive with my family. I started breeding chickens last year from the little money I gained from taking photographs at weddings, parties, and school events and from individuals,” said Mr Nyathi.
In entrepreneurship, determination is key to success. It includes persistence and the ability to bounce back from rough times.
For Mr Nyathi, determination has been the motto for business success which has enabled him to overcome the many challenges he faced and ready to face those that might come up in future. He supplies local schools and his community with chickens and eggs.
“There are many challenges. I started this business from money I earned taking photos. No one helped me and I would go around the community collecting maize and sorghum in order to feed my chickens. Sometimes I would go to the grinding mill and ask for maize. Keeping more than 250 chickens is not a joke. You have to see to it that they are fed early in the morning before they go out,” said Mr Nyathi.
Other challenges include accommodating them and also keeping them safe from wild animals.
“My huge challenge is to keep an eye on these chickens. Wild animals including hawks attack them so I have to stay near them all the times,” he said, adding that he has shifted attention from photography to concentrate on the more rewarding poultry venture.
He has one fowl run in which he accommodates his chickens. His vision is to expand it as his business continues to grow. Mr Nyathi said he is keen to do business with other youths in his area in order to develop their community.
“I am willing to do business with my fellow youths but we lack financial support and business skills. Sometimes these chickens get affected by various diseases and they die because I don’t know what to give them. I appeal to businesspeople who have know-how on how to breed rural type chickens to assist me and also on how to market my products. My wish is to find a trustworthy partner who will help me sell my chickens to restaurants in different towns,” said Mr Nyathi.
He has so much potential, but lacks information on how and where to secure loans to boost his business.
His situation suggests a strong need for the new Government, to fully go deep into the rural areas and empower youths in those areas with loans and skills training which can sustain them grow their businesses and discourage them from engaging in illicit behaviours such prostitution and taking of drugs.
His mother, Mrs Nyathi said that they are grateful about the general thrust of the new Zanu-PF Government to promote local business but expect authorities to do more for its people in rural areas.
“I appeal to our Government to fully reach out to our children here in the rural areas as the future of this country lies in their hands. My son is doing great on his chicken business but his major problem is finding markets and transport for these chickens,” she said.
Online Reporter