Africa-Press – Namibia. THEOPOLINA Shatilwe (67) from Endola village in the Ohangwena region ventured into poultry farming after retiring from teaching at Ndilokelwa Primary School at Endola.
Shatilwe, who retired in 2015, says she started a poultry project called the Pevat project at her homestead at the village with eight egg-laying chickens.
“I farm four chicken species: indigenous chicken, broilers, Boschveld and Lohman brown chickens. I breed both dual-purpose chickens and egg-laying chickens,” she says.
Shatilwe also sells chicks, which she hatches with machinery she has procured herself.
“When I saw my chickens were becoming a lot, I started loving them and decided to start breeding them. I grew up to 1 000 chickens every month,” she says.
She says she ordered her broiler chickens from South Africa.
“It was not easy at first, because I have been struggling due to a lack of poultry farming experience. I started attending workshops, and I got a mentor in the region – Tauno Shikomba,” she says.
Shatilwe says people in the region started buying her chickens, upon which she decided to expand her farm and to start selling eggs as well.
“I have created WhatsApp groups on which I post my chickens, chicks and eggs. I have a lot of buyers, and currently I sell to people for events like school bazaars and weddings,” she says.
She says chicken feed is becoming expensive.
“I have realised those feeds are not sufficient, and now I mix them with sunflower seeds I grow myself, melon seeds, maize seeds, pearl millet and sorghum seeds. I give my chickens these feeds when they’re six weeks old,” she says.
Shatilwe says pearl millet seems to slow chikens’ growth.
“I tried looking for assistance from the government, but was rejected due to my age. But that didn’t make me give up. The feeds are expensive, and I decided to produce my own too,” she says.
The farmer says she is assisted by family and community members, and recruits students from her village.
She says she pays them in cash, live chickens, chicks, or eggs.
“I now also mentor people who want to start poultry farming. I have trained 10 women from my community, and many of them are cruising nicely. Only a few have dumped the idea,” she says.
Shatilwe says her biggest challenge was a lack of knowledge, high input costs, chicken medicine, and theft.
Last year, she says 68 chickens were stolen from her, which has affected her business.
“Covid-19 has also hindered my business as there were no customers,” she says.
Shatilwe says to protect her chickens, she ensures the chicken house is clean and provides her chickens a balanced diet.
She says she also vaccinates her chickens, gives them vitamins and supplements, and lots of clean water.
“Ever since I started, I have not received a complaint from my clients. One thing I like is biosecurity. People who visit chickens bring them diseases, and that’s why I avoid them entering the chicken house,” she says.
Shatilwe encourages young people to start small projects in their areas and apply for support from the government.
“The government does not help those who are quiet, but those who are trying. Start with something small. I am open to assisting with mentorship to those who need it,” she says.
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