Driven by a determination to honour her family’s agricultural heritage while tackling local unemployment, Noxolo Portia Ngwenya is building a thriving poultry enterprise in Limpopo.
The founder of Ngwananku Poultry Projects is reinvesting early earnings, leveraging backyard space, and proving that sustainable agribusiness begins with resourcefulness over vast capital.
Ngwenya’s affinity for farming developed early during her upbringing in Phashaskraal Village, Atok. Raised by her parents, Tselanyane Tinny and Joseph Senkatile Makau, she grew up observing their daily commitment to raising livestock and managing crops to sustain the household.
“My greatest inspiration is my parents,” Ngwenya reflects. “They raised crops and poultry to support our family and taught me that farming is not just about producing food; it’s about creating opportunities and changing lives. Growing up, I watched them work tirelessly despite many challenges. Their resilience, discipline, and love for agriculture inspired me to continue their legacy.”
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From classroom ambitions to a true calling
Ngwenya began her schooling at Ramoko Primary School before matriculating from Moseki Secondary School in 2017. Aiming to build a career in education, she enrolled at Pentagon College, where she earned a national diploma in educare.
Her initial goal was to establish an English pre-primary school to serve her village. To earn an income, Ngwenya worked through three contract phases as an assistant teacher at Tlou Phuti Secondary School. She later transitioned into the corporate sector as a TymeBank ambassador, a role she eventually had to resign from following a leg injury.
“Even while I was still at school, I always dreamed of becoming a farmer… I wanted to become someone who creates employment opportunities for others.”
“Although I was grateful for every opportunity I received, deep down I always knew farming was my true passion.
“Working as a teacher assistant and later as an ambassador gave me valuable life experience and helped me earn an income. Instead of spending my salary on luxuries, I invested it in building my first poultry house and buying equipment,” she says.
Chicks being brooded at Ngwananku Poultry Projects, where operations have scaled to 200 broilers every three weeks. Photo: Supplied/ Food For Mzansi
Laying the foundation
In early 2022, Ngwenya launched her venture from her family’s backyard in Phashaskraal Village. Recognising a local shortage of fresh poultry, which forced residents to travel long distances or wait for external deliveries, she identified a clear gap in the market.
She purchased an initial batch of 100 broiler chicks, buying feed and basic materials incrementally as her budget allowed.
“I built my first poultry house in my backyard without any external funding or sponsorship,” she shares. “Every brick, every bag of cement, and every piece of equipment was purchased little by little as I could afford it. I didn’t wait until everything was perfect; I believed that starting small was better than not starting at all.”
Her disciplined strategy yielded results. In 2023, she reached a major operational milestone by formally registering her business as Ngwananku Poultry Projects, laying the groundwork for commercial partnerships and formal market access.
Scaling production and mastering the trade
In 2025, Ngwenya enrolled at the University of South Africa (Unisa) for a diploma in safety management, where she is currently in her second year.
Balancing her studies with farm management requires rigorous discipline, followed by academic work late into the night. She directly applies her coursework in occupational safety and risk management to refine her farm’s daily operational protocols.
Her daily farming operations have scaled significantly. She now supplies both live and professionally processed birds to a diverse client base, including local schools, street vendors, catering firms, restaurants, and neighbouring households.
“My greatest achievement has been growing my business from producing 100 broiler chickens to producing 200 broilers every three weeks. Seeing my business continue to grow despite limited resources reminds me that consistency and perseverance truly pay off.”
To enhance her product quality, Ngwenya completed specialised poultry abattoir training, ensuring all dressed birds meet strict hygiene and processing standards. Her enterprise currently supports one full-time employee and two casual workers.
Overcoming hurdles for long-term impact
However, operating out of a residential setup presents distinct logistical bottlenecks. Because her brooding facility is separated from the main housing unit, Ngwenya and her team must manually transfer three-week-old birds using large plastic tubs in the absence of a farm vehicle.
“This process is physically demanding, time-consuming, and increases stress on the birds,” she explains. “Despite these challenges, we continue to work with the resources available while maintaining high standards of animal care and hygiene.”
Her long-term roadmap includes acquiring larger agricultural land, establishing a dedicated processing facility, and scaling output to 1 000 broilers per three-week cycle. She also aims to establish formal mentorship programmes for aspiring youth in Limpopo.
Ready for market: Processed poultry prepared for distribution to local schools, restaurants, and street vendors in Atok. Photo: Supplied/ Food For Mzansi
“Ultimately, I want my business to contribute meaningfully to food security, rural economic development, and community empowerment,” she says.
Her advice for young individuals considering an entry into agriculture is simple: “Don’t wait until you have enough money, perfect equipment, or the ideal farm. Those things can come with time. Success in farming comes through hard work, consistency, patience, and a willingness to learn every day.”
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