A poultry business that started as an egg reseller in 2019 has grown into a 30 000-layer commercial farm that produces one million eggs a month and employs 20 people.
The farm’s growth shows how access to funding and agricultural infrastructure can help rural SMMEs move into formal markets.
Eggsellent By Lebo, owned by Lebo Mashigo, currently produces close to one million eggs a month, but plans are underway to increase this to one million eggs a week and eventually one million eggs a day.
Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA) MEC Khethiwe Moeketsi, together with the National Empowerment Fund, recently handed over two environmentally friendly layer houses to Eggsellent By Lebo, owned by entrepreneur Lebo Mashigo in Kwaggafontein near Kwa-Mhlanga.
The layer houses have a capacity of 15 000 chickens each.
From backyard production to formal markets
Mashigo received an investment from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) in 2020, which enabled her to start producing eggs in her mother’s backyard.
The business later received support from DARDLEA through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme during the 2022/23 financial year. The support included the construction of two-layer houses with a capacity of 30 000, and laying resources and equipment.
Mashigo said the increased capacity has allowed the business to supply formal markets and strengthen its position as a commercial producer.
Mashigo said 90% of her 20 employees come from villages near the farm.
“They don’t spend money on transport; they don’t have to spend hours going to work, and they don’t have to pay for rent. All their money goes into their pockets,” she said.
Despite the growth, Mashigo said high production costs remain one of the biggest challenges facing the business.
“Production costs are high. Feed, diesel and electricity costs are too high. We need to have ways to solve for this,” she said.
These costs could become more significant as the business increases production.
Mashigo plans to expand the farm’s packhouse so that Eggsellent By Lebo can aggregate eggs from other smallholder farmers and supply formal markets.
“We need to extend our packhouse so we can aggregate from other smallholders to supply the markets. This will translate to more jobs. Sustainable jobs,” she said.
