When Hlajoane Makhanya retired as a police officer in 2001, he had no idea how he would supplement his pension to ensure that his family is provided for. He has three sons, and a household of nine people.

Three years later, in 2004, small farmers in Leribe decided to join hands, and founded Khothalang Linare, a farmers association. Makhanya was one of the founder members. The objective of Khothalang Linare is to collect contributions from members, and lend at 10% interest. Through the association he is now able to put food on the table every day.

“One of my sons is a police officer in Maseru, the other one is studying in South Africa but his wife lives with us, and the other one works with me on livestock production. I had to find a way to sustain my family.” says Makhanya. He says today he is happy because with his cattle, sheep, chicken and vegetable plots he is able to put food on the table every day.

27 year-old Tsepo Makhoathi is the secretary of the association. Makhoathi’s eyes were opened to the world of farming when he worked in chicken sales for a big retailer in South Africa. He says Khothalang Linare has never received funding from donors, and depends entirely on its members’ contributions.

It is these contributions that helped him to buy chicks to start his dream, a chicken farm. The turnaround came when he was invited to a business forum in Hotse where he paid M100 to attend. At the forum, LEAP had been invited to present opportunities for businesses to get funding.

He immediately saw the opportunity to grow from being just a small farmer, to owning a supply chain of the magnitude he saw in South Africa. He conducted research to establish what he needed to do to appeal to retail. During this time he also met a company that was willing to buy nearly three thousand 2kg chickens every fortnight, provided they are packaged as mixed portions, and Halaal.

This information formed the basis for his packaging proposal to LEAP.. Khothalang Linare has now been approved for a thirteen thousand Maloti project to design packaging with a bar code, and will be reimbursed 75% as an association.

Makhoathi has mobilized the members to work on this project for future growth.

“The packaging will make our chicken look professional, but we still need to satisfy many requirements for quality assurance and constant supply. We need to have a Halaal abattoir, and a refrigerated delivery vehicle.” Tsepo Makhoathi