The Kgora Farmers Training Centre in Mahikeng will boost its poultry production capacity with the purchase of a large hatching machine.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development explained that the acquisition of the equipment was also in response to Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza’s request during his February visit to the centre.
During a meeting with MEC Desbo Mohono, the Minister emphasized the need for the centre to additionally hatch broilers, citing a national shortage of day-old broilers.
The new machine can hatch ducks, geese, quail, and pigeons, in addition to ducks and geese.
According to the department, this is an update because the center’s previous hatchery could only produce 2,000 chicks per week and could not fulfill the enormous demand for hens for food security programs. The new equipment is anticipated to raise the center’s monthly poultry production capacity to 12,000 chicks.
Mohono praised the development, stating that the department will be able to produce more broilers moving forward.
Indeed, this is an improvement and a start in the right direction. This also means that the number of beneficiaries will expand because the hens we produce here are supplied to farmers in the province for rearing, and others are donated to various projects as part of the department’s food security programs, Mohono explained.
About the facility and available skills
Kgora Farmer Training Centre is a state-owned Mahikeng-based agricultural skills training facility charged with enhancing farming abilities at all levels.
The centre is accredited by the Agricultural Sector Education and Training Authority (AgriSETA) as an animal and plant production education and training provider in the agriculture sector.
Last year, Kgora added basic hatchery management training for the first time to its range of skills development courses. The workshop is designed to educate aspiring poultry farmers as well as seasoned farmers on how to enhance their performance.
Farmers that enroll in the program study the practical aspects of hatchery management, such as the biology of fertile egg production and handling, setter and hatcher environment, day-old chick processing, and hatchery biosecurity.
“Upon successful completion of courses, students are awarded national certificates, National Qualifications Framework (NQF) 1 – 4, recognized by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) in accordance with the SAQA Act of 1995.
“Training at the centre ranges from excursions, demonstrations, and refreshers to credit-bearing unit standards to address knowledge and skill gaps in arable farming, livestock husbandry, agribusiness, aquaculture, as well as organizational, marketing, and financial management,” according to the department.
It was also emphasized that the center can only accommodate a limited number of people at a time, therefore “it operates on a first-come, first-serve basis.”
The department invited the public to inquire with local agricultural offices about skill development courses offered at the Kgora Farmers Training Centre.