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Investigate the Development of an Alternative Hatchery and Chick
Supply from Pietermaritzburg
Members of the project team, Mr Zipho Majija (Engineering
Division), Dr Peter Plumstead (Poultry Specialist), Mr Ajellon
Zondi (Farming Entreprenuer) and Dr Merida Roets (Project
Manager) on the site visit in November 2007
Funding has been obtained by Scientific Roets from the EU-funded
Gijima Programme of KwaZulu-Natal to investigate the potential
economic viability, the market potential, and the technological
and skills requirements of an alternative day-old-chick supply
operation managed and owned exclusively by Mr Ajellon Zondi a
farming entrepreneur with available land and managerial
resources in the Pietermaritzburg area.
The current day-old-chick supply chain is eclipsed by large
operators who supply day-old-chicks to independent producers and
small informal production units erratically, whilst giving first
preference to their own “in-house” production facilities when
supplies are limited. This has created an ideal opportunity to
develop an independent chick supply operation which can fill
this niche reliably and sustainably, thus improving the
competitiveness of the sector and integrating emerging farmers
into the sector without having to rely on BBBEE deals and their
concomitant contractual restrictions and provisos. Specifically,
the small, informal broiler and egg producers would welcome an
alternative source for their production stock on which they rely
for their livelihoods (albeit at a subsistence level which
ensures food security and independence of many women in rural
areas).
Progress to date (January 2008) includes:
- Several capacity building
exercises have been undertaken,
- Site visits have been
conducted and
- Production scenarios and cash
flows have been developed.
Site surveys and infrastructure
design will begin shortly.
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