In 2013, Achmad Brinkhuis, owner of Chamomile Farming Enterprises, found himself at dinner with foreign chicken farmers at the International Egg Commission's conference in Cape Town. One guest suggested that they all introduce themselves and state how many laying hens they had.
Half a million. One million. One-and-a-half million, the farmers said, one after the other.
Brinkhuis cringed. 35 000, he said.
A 'millionaire' smiled at him and said, Oh yes, we all started there, too.
Feeling a bit more at ease, Brinkhuis continued the evening, absorbing what he could from these industry veterans. Learning from every source possible and grabbing opportunities whenever they present themselves, he is working his way towards the millionaire's club, after starting with just five chickens 17 years ago.
FAST FACTS
Achmad Brinkhuis started his operation with five layer hens 17 years ago, and today farms 37 000 chickens.
Chamomile Farming Enterprises is a family affair, with Brinkhuis, his wife and sons all involved in the operation.
Brinkhuis maintains that his greatest challenge is theft.
SMALL BEGINNINGS
Brinkhuis, his wife Wadea, and their sons Nabeel and Tawfeeq run Chamomile in Philippi in the Western Cape. They produce nearly one million eggs a month from 37 000 hens, in addition to a variety of vegetables. The majority of all this produce is delivered to Freshmark.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
