Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Feather in cap for chicken producer helping others
HOME-GROWN food industries have never been more crucial for food security than during this time of a global pandemic.
The benefits of having local farmers producing our nation’s most affordable and widely consumed protein cannot be underestimated.
In South Africa, the chicken industry has continued throughout lockdown. South Africa’s chicken producers are a diverse group with big, small and even smaller producers that create tens of thousands of jobs and infuse rural economies with energy and avenues for growth and prosperity.
Henwil Chickens in Lichtenburg in the North West is such a producer. Established in 2002 as an abattoir, the business has changed beyond recognition in the past 18 years. When financial difficulties threatened its existence, the 13 chicken farmers who depended on the abattoir formed a company and bought the facility.
After 15 years of organic growth into areas such as feed, retail and fleet, Henwil’s board of directors called on the business school of the North-West University in 2017 to help chart the way forward: higher volumes, lower unit costs, increased competitiveness and healthier profit margins. Henk Alberts was appointed chief executive.
Today, after an R88 million expansion project, funded through accumulated reserves and loans, the Henwil abattoir is certified to slaughter 110 000 broilers a day, up from 60 000.
Henwil is fortunate that Covid-19 has not had an impact on shareholder-farmers’ ability to raise broilers or the running of its abattoir and factory.
Henwil has donated chicken worth about R20 000 to four old age homes in Lichtenburg and Coligny, and joined forces with the Department of Social Development to distribute 2 000 food parcels to families in need.
It will continue assisting the provincial government to establish a feed mill as part of the Springbokpan agri-hub, one of 44 such initiatives aimed at giving subsistence farmers a chance at commercial sustainability.