Poultry farmer diversifies products
Young farmer, Pearl Motlotlegi aims to take the lead in the poultry industry by producing chicken meat and products competitive to the famous local brands.
Her integrated farming business, Aasa farms, was established in 2018, producing meat in small scale and selling live chickens to individuals. After two years of operation, it has grown its production capacity and has recently launched mixed chicken portions, braai packs in 2kg and 5kg sizes.
Speaking to the Business Trends, Motlotlegi said she has always had passion to produce meat and feed the nation. She is also keeping pigs and producing pork meat, although she studied Insurance and Mandarin Chinese at Shanghai University China. Motlotlegi said she invested time researching and learning about farming and meat production. “I have no qualifications in poultry nor piggery farming.I have learnt everything on my own by researching and learning from other farmers and that’s how I earned my skill on poultry farming,” she said.
She started her poultry business with personal savings. “Every thebe I got I saved it so that I could buy chicks and feeds.”
Motlotlegi said the market is not very challenging and it is a very lucrative market but an entrepreneur needs to be strategic. Although a lot of people are into poultry farming Motlotlegi said she is able to sail through the market because of innovation, creativity and proper branding.“I take my business seriously and I do proper marketing and branding so that I can be known and recognized.”
Despite the negative impacts of lockdown and movement restrictions, which resulted in the shortage of chicks, Aasa farms, was able to survive due to strategic planning and good management practices. Currently the farm supplies two major supermarkets and restaurants. There are four permanent employees in the farm.
Motlotlegi says she would like to see the farm being able to feed the whole nation in the next five years. “l want to see our produce in big retail shops and being able to export to other nations.”