From backyard to business: Patricia Beleng's journey to success

Patricia Beleng, owner of Buhlebenkosi Agri Productions, is a determined farmer who went from raising broilers in her backyard to running a poultry business supplying hundreds of chickens to the local market. Lindi Botha reports on the partnerships that brought her success.

- Patricia Beleng

When opportunity comes knocking on Patricia Beleng’s door, she answers. In 2022, she was working as a security guard at Sasol in Sasolburg, Free State, when the company offered a farmer development programme for its staff. “I didn’t know anything about farming at that stage, but I was looking for a challenge, something that would excite me,” says Beleng.

The course gave participants the option to choose between three commodities on which to focus: poultry, cattle, or vegetables. Since Beleng’s mother raised broilers in her backyard, she decided on poultry as she already had some familiarity with this industry.

After three months she was ready to take the leap into farming full-time, and resigned as a security guard. With little start-up capital, she converted her mother’s garage into a chicken coop, expanding the windows and fitting them with mesh wire and tarpaulin to keep the cold out. She stocked the coop with chickens, turning over 100 chickens every six weeks.

Market demand for Beleng’s broilers was consistent, even exceeding production. But a lack of financing meant that expansion was difficult. Recognising the importance of maintaining her market, she bought broilers from other farmers to resell to her market.

During this time she came across a farm in Deneysville that had the infrastructure she needed to expand production, although it was mostly dilapidated. The farm has nine chicken houses, each with a capacity for 3 000 chickens. There is also a hatchery and abattoir.

Beleng recognised its potential and approached the owners to convince them to lease her the farm. “It was not easy — there were a lot of other farmers who were vying for the same property. I had to draw up a business plan and show the owners that I had the skills and drive to turn the farm into a productive unit.”