Making ostriches fly for small farmers in South Africa

Ostrich farming, which has long been associated with the export-driven farms of the Western and Eastern Cape, is quietly taking on new meaning in townships and rural areas far from the traditional production hubs.

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So said Clovis Bhiya, an academic in agricultural management at the Nelson Mandela University's (NMU) George Campus.

Bhiya has embarked on a PhD course at NMU to study ostrich value chains in South Africa and how to improve the viability of this industry. In a written contribution shared with George Herald, she highlights a recent small-scale ostrich producer training event in Gauteng, during which emerging farmers shared experiences that challenge long-held assumptions about where and how ostriches can be profitably farmed.