More than 300 poultry farmers, including broiler, egg layer and indigenous chicken producers, benefited from an information-sharing event during the Vhembe District Agriculture Information Day held at the Thohoyandou Indoor Sports Centre on Friday, 31 October.
One of the attendees, 38-year-old chicken layer farmer Mr Rudzani Tshisikule, described the event as "highly inspiring and informative" for rural farmers. "I started my chicken layer business in 2020 in Tshikhudini village along the Punda Maria Road, but later moved it to Tshiulungoma 1," he said. "Although I enjoy farming, it comes with challenges — the strong winds of 2023, the bird flu outbreak and, most of all, the high price of feed. I hope to one day have enough chickens to fill all my houses and a reliable customer base, so that my business can grow."
Adv Anderson Mudunungu from the Vhembe District Municipality said the 2025 Agriculture Information Day brought together farmers, government departments, researchers and community leaders to promote sustainable farming. "Agriculture remains the backbone of our rural economy. It sustains families, provides jobs and defines our district's heritage. From the fertile soils of Levubu to the lands of Malamulele, Vhembe has the potential to feed not only Limpopo but the entire nation," he said.
Mudunungu acknowledged challenges such as water shortages, climate change and rising input costs, calling for collective action. He also urged young people to see farming "not as a last resort but as a business — a source of pride, prosperity and innovation."
Mr Phillemon Maluta from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development stressed the importance of record keeping. "Accurate bookkeeping helps farmers price their products correctly and track their financial health," he said.