Buhle
Student Update
AGRICULTURE
BUHLE STUDENT NOW A COMMERCIAL BROILER FARMER
Mfana Mahlangu has been a graduate of the academy since
June 2009 after successful completion of the poultry
production course. He attended the course as a result of the
encouragement he got from his father after he (his father)
attended the same course in 2007. In addition to this, the
Mahlangu family runs a broiler production enterprise with a
total capacity of 10 000 broilers which is divided into 5
houses with a capacity of 2000 each. The need for
expanding and improving the business gave rise to the
desire of improving his knowledge and skills.
he recently bought two heifers and one bull as a way of
starting his beef herd.
The impact his business is making in improving other
people's lives is seen and felt by the people he employs.
With 5 full time employees, the Mahlangu farming operation
illustrates its contribution towards the job creation crisis.
Therefore this together with the farming practices
performed on the farm quali?es the Mahlangu farming
operation as a success that re?ects the academy's impact.
Mfana has recently acquired a loan of R295 000 from Land
Bank which was allocated to their co-op. This secured him a
continuous production of 9000 broilers, with each house
carrying 1800 birds. The broilers are sold directly to hawkers
and local community members who buy directly from his
farm. According to Mfana, “The informal market offers better
prices compared to the formalized market”. His preferred
breed is Ross 308 since it has a good FCR (feed conversion
ratio) plus a low mortality rate of 2, 3%.
Mahlangu stated that he is where he is today in terms of
farming because of Buhle Farmers Academy contri-butions
in his life.
In addition to the poultry enterprise, Mfana bought 17 mixed
bred goats in January 2011. He now has 24 goats in total
since he got 7 kids from his ?rst kidding season. Furthermore,
Mfana feeding his chickens
70
Mfana with Buhle Farmer Support of?cer
Mcgreggor Ntuli outside his broiler unit
“Mfana Mahlangu with his chickens during June
2012. He currently bought nine thousand broilers
for his business
CORPORATE SOCIAL REVIEW