Page 27 - CSERI Annual Review Report 2023/2024

DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
FROM RURAL ROOTS TO BUSINESS HEIGHTS:
LUHNYEZI FARMS’ SAMUKELISIWE SITHOLE MAKES WAVES IN POULTRY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
DUT CSERI had a chat with CEO and Founder of Luhnyezi Farms, Ms Samukelisiwe Sithole. Luhnyezi Farms is a 100% black owned poultry farm that grows fertile eggs to produces and sells live broiler chickens. Earlier this year, Ms. Sithole stood amongst 320 other participants and made it to the Top 20 of the prestigious Hollywood Bambelela Business Awards.
Q. How did the idea came about?
A. Luhnyezi farms is a poultry farming business specializing in poultry hatchery, broiler production and poultry abattoir, as well as the virtual poultry production training for small-scale and start up business for women, youth and rural business people ,this business was established in 2021 with the aim to tackle against poverty, unemployment, unhealthy food intake due to affordability as well as the threat of food security in continent as a young woman who grew up in a very poverty- stricken background. I chose to be the change catalyst and be the change I wanted to see growing up in a community that had no hope.
Q. What services or products are available in your business?
A. We produce live broiler chickens, chicken meat (portioned and whole), slaughtering services, skills and training services, day-old chicks.
Q.How has DUT Centre for Social
Entrepreneurship shaped you as an entrepreneur for your journey to entrepreneurship?
A. Through this programme I have gained a lot of insight regarding operating a sustainable business, through the workshops, I had beautiful encounters through networking and knowledge sharing, it has been a great platform for understanding where my business is at and where it is going with key factors of business and finance management, productivity, marketing strategies etc. We now have managed to make a turnover of R200 000 of sales.
Q. What have you learnt that you will implement in your business?
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