Members of the Ubumbano Lwabafelokazi Poultry Farming based in Dumaneni village, in KwaZulu Natal

Amalungu e-Ubumbano Lwabafelokazi Poultry Farming yasesigodini saseDumaneni, KwaZulu-Natali

Mothers of Dumaneni find victory in poultry farming

A triumphant outlook is on the cards for a group of women who have started a poultry farming business in Dumaneni village, on the outskirts of Ulundi in KwaZulu Natal. Ubumbano Lwabafelokazi Poultry Farming is one of two community cooperatives under the Mlaba Traditional Council that have started agricultural projects through ZAC’s assistance. These initiatives fall under ZAC’s Social and Labour Plan.

The group was initially started as a support network for women who lost their husbands, inspiring the name Ubumbano Lwabafelokazi which means ‘Widows in Solidarity’. Their aspirations to start a poultry business took flight when the women wrote to ZAC, requesting sponsorship. ZAC's contribution of 250 chicks, coupled with essential resources like fencing, a chicken coop, feed, and signage, formed a foundation for the business.

"This project has changed our lives because most of us were unemployed. We have been empowered to support our children,” remarks cooperative secretary Jabu Mlaba.

They have raised the first 250 chicks and sold most of them within the community. “We saved up enough money to purchase an additional 60 chicks, so that we keep the sales going. We also ordered a further 100 chicks which we expect should arrive soon,” says Jabu. A bit of research helped the women of Ubumbano to establish the right pricing with the chickens being sold at R110 each.

The women keep the surroundings immaculately clean, working in groups of four to tend to the chickens and facilitate the sales. They have also hired a security guard to look after the property at night. Looking to the future with optimism, Jabu says their dream is to create job opportunities.

"Our vision is to hire young people and expand the business. We want them to see that if we as mothers can do this, they can too,” she affirms. They also want to incorporate egg-laying chickens into their enterprise. Beyond poultry, their ambitions extend to a diversified livestock complex that includes goats, sheep and cattle.

ZAC social development manager Khumbulani Masuku says such projects are important as they enhance sustainability within host communities. In addition to Ubumbano Lwabafelokazi, ZAC provided resources for Siyakhula Poultry Farming, another women-led cooperative in the community. “It has been great to see the effort these communities are putting in ensuring that these projects thrive in the future,” Khumbulani says.

Omama baseDumaneni banqoba ngokufuya izinkukhu

Sekusemome ukunqoba kwiqoqo lomama abaqale ibhizinisi lokufuya izinkukhu basesigodini iDumaneni, emajukujukwini asoLundi KwaZulu-Natali. Ubumbano Lwabafelokazi Poultry Farming ngenye yemifelandawonye emibili ngaphansi koMkhandlu weSizwe sakwaMlaba eliqale imisebenzi yokufuya ngosizo lweZAC.

Leli qoqo laqala liwubudlelwano bokweseka omama abashonelwa ngabayeni, okuyilapho kusuka khona igama elithi Ubumbano Lwabafelokazi. Izifiso zabo zokuqala ibhizinisi lokufuya izinkukhu laqala ukufezeka ngenkathi labomama bebhalela iZAC becela ukuxhaswa. Umnikelo weZAC wamachwane angu-250, okuhambisana nezinsiza ezinjengocingo lokubiya, ihhoko, ukudla kwezinkukhu nezimpawu, okwabayisisekelo sebhizinisi labo.

“Lo msebenzi usuzishintshile izimpilo zethu njengoba abaningi kithina babengasebenzi. Sihlonyiselwe ukondla izingane zethu,” kusho unobhala womfelandawonye uJabu Mlaba.”.

Sebekhulise amachwane okuqala angu-250, iningi lawo bawadayisa emphakathini. “Songa imali eyanele ukuthi sithenge amanye amachwane angu-60 ukuze siqhubeke sidayise. Sithenge amanye amachwane a-100, esilindele ukuthi afike maduze,” kusho uJabu.

Ucwaningo oluncane lusize omama bo-Ubumbano ukuthi babize amanani afanele njengoba izinkukhu zibiza uR110 iyodwa.

Indawo yalabomama ihlale ihlanzekile, basebenza ngamathimba abantu abane ukunakekela izinkukhu nokudayisa. Sebeqashe nonogada ukuthi ababhekele indawo yokusebenza ebusuku. Ebheka ikusasa ngokwethemba, uJabu uthi isifiso sabo wukwakha amathuba omsebenzi.

“Isifiso sethu wukuqasha abantu abasha nokusimamisa umsebenzi. Sifuna babone ukuthi uma thina singomama sikwazi ukukwenza, nabo bangakwenza,” kusho yena.

Bafisa ukwengeza izinkukhu ezizalela amaqanda ebhizinisini labo. Ngaphandle kokufuya izinkukhu, isifiso sabo wukwandisa imfuyo ngokwengeza izimbuzi, izimvu nezinkomo.

Imenenja yokuthuthukisa umphakathi eZAC uKhumbulani Masuku ithi izinhlelo ezinje zibalulekile ngoba zandisa ekuchumeni kwemiphakathini yendawo. Ngale ko-Ubumbano Lwabafelokazi, iZAC ihlinzeke iSiyakhula Poultry Farming, omunye umfelandawonye wabantu besifazane. “Kumnandi ukubona umsebenzi owenziwa yile miphakathi ekuqinisekiseni ukuthi le misebenzi iyasimama ngomuso,” kusho uKhumbulani.