Kabelo Lekalakala runs the Pitso Ostrich Farm (pitso means ‘the calling’ in Setswana) in Mamogalieskraal outside Brits. A part-time farmer, he is also employed as a business adviser.
Lekalakala grew up in Bapong Village, in the Bojanala District Municipality in North West, an area he describes as being rich in mining, tourism and agriculture. He always wanted to be a farmer and was inspired by the farms he passed on his way to Sonop near Brits.
After matriculating, he successfully completed a BTech Business Administration in 2013.
In August 2017, he relocated to Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, where he joined his current employer (he prefers this to remain confidential), working with ostrich farming entrepreneurs. It was here that he was exposed to the ostrich value chain, from breeding and growing to slaughtering, leather tanning, and making feather and eggshell decorations.
As he developed a broad understanding of the business, he began researching ostrich farming.
“Through speaking to these entrepreneurs in the value chain, I became aware of the barriers to entry, including a lack of access to finance and to sustainable and growing markets. Appetite for transformation is also still lacking,” he says.
STARTING A BUSINESS
In January this year, Lekalakala took the plunge and launched his own farming operation in North West. While recognizing that this is no longer an ostrich farming region, he realized it had the potential to be revived after coming across the report, ‘A profile of the South African ostrich market value chain in 2017’, compiled by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (department of agriculture). The study stated that while 30 ostrich farms were registered in North West, none was operational.
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.
