A legacy of empowerment, innovation in poultry industry

LEBOELA MOTOPI

MASERU – Nestled in the heart of Lesotho, Habo Khoho (PTY) Ltd stands as a shining example of empowerment, resilience, and community-centred business in the poultry industry.  This Basotho female-owned enterprise, founded by Lucy Mabathoana in 2016 and officially registered in 2023, is a powerful testament to hard work, determination, and family unity.

At the helm today is Lucy’s daughter, Ntolo Mabathoana, who has taken the reins with a vision that blends tradition with innovation. Together, they have transformed Habo Khoho into a thriving poultry business that supports local farmers and provides high-quality chicken products to communities across Lesotho.

But the road to success was not smooth, and the story of Habo Khoho is one of overcoming challenges, staying true to core values, and nurturing a business that uplifts others. The journey of Habo Khoho began when Lucy Mabathoana first envisioned building a small poultry business. In 2016, after attending broiler breeding training facilitated by a local expert, Lebuile Rantletse, Lucy embarked on her new venture with a modest batch of 200 chickens. Despite having limited resources, Lucy was driven by a deep passion for ethical farming and a desire to empower local farmers.

“I wanted to create a business that did not just sell chicken products but one that also helped people,” Lucy recalls. Her vision was always centred around the community — supporting local farmers by providing them with the tools and knowledge to succeed in a market that was still largely untapped.

As she expanded her operation to 500 chicks, Lucy quickly identified a significant challenge facing many broiler farmers in Lesotho, which is, access to good quality chicks. To address this, she began selling imported chicks alongside her farming activities, aiming to create a reliable source for farmers who struggled with inconsistent suppliers.

However, Lucy faced numerous challenges along the way, including unreliable suppliers and, at times, outright scams. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought the business to a standstill.

But Lucy’s resilience kept her going, and by 2021, she secured a dependable supply of chicks and revitalised her operations. With the support of her daughter Ntolo, Habo Khoho began to grow again, this time with a renewed sense of purpose.

In 2023, Lucy partnered with her daughter, Ntolo, who brought fresh energy and a forward-thinking approach to the family business. Armed with a degree in business management and a decade of experience in the banking sector, Ntolo infused the company with innovative ideas while preserving the values her mother had instilled from the beginning.

For Ntolo, taking over as Managing Director was more than just a career move — it was a personal mission to continue her mother’s legacy. “It was important for me to preserve my mother’s vision while modernising our operations and expanding our reach,” Ntolo explains.

“We wanted to be more than just a poultry business; we wanted to be a hub for local farmers to grow and thrive,” she says. Under Ntolo’s leadership, Habo Khoho registered as a legal entity and underwent a transformation into a multi-faceted poultry enterprise.

What began as a small family venture evolved into a business with a clear mission: to empower local farmers and champion sustainable agriculture.  By 2023, Habo Khoho had grown significantly, with the capacity to service over 500 local broiler farmers from all 10 districts of Lesotho, producing and selling an average of 4,500 chickens per month.

Habo Khoho’s business model is built on three key subsidiaries, each contributing to the company’s goal of empowering local farmers while ensuring high quality poultry products for consumers. There is the Habo Khoho Shop – the company’s retail division, which provides farmers with grade-A quality, day-old broiler chicks, chicken medicine, and essential farming equipment. The shop also offers free training and ongoing support to local farmers, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to succeed in poultry farming.

Then there is the Habo Khoho Meat Market – an innovative buy-back operation allows trained farmers to sell their slaughtered chickens and innards to Habo Khoho, which then sells the products to the public for a commission. This model ensures farmers have a consistent and reliable market for their chickens, reducing the financial risks they face.

Finally, there is the Habo Khoho Farm located in Sehlabeng sa Thuathe in the Berea district with a housing capacity of 4,000 chickens per cycle. The farm not only serves as a production facility but also as a training ground for farmers looking to improve their poultry farming skills.

The core of Habo Khoho’s mission goes beyond business; it is about building a sustainable and supportive ecosystem for local farmers.

“Our vision is to bring fresh, locally produced chicken to our communities while empowering the farmers who produce it,” says Ntolo. “We believe in ethical farming, innovative practices, and the importance of community partnerships.”

Training and support are integral to the success of Habo Khoho. Through comprehensive broiler production training programmes, local farmers learn the best practices in poultry farming, ensuring consistent, high quality production.

The company also works closely with government stakeholders, helping to shape agricultural policies that benefit the poultry industry and support the growth of local farmers.

As Habo Khoho continues to grow, Lucy and Ntolo have ambitious plans for the future. One of their primary goals is to establish a chicken abattoir, where locally grown chickens can be slaughtered in a clean and regulated environment, ensuring the highest standards of quality and hygiene.

They also plan to expand into layers production, providing support to both broiler and layers farmers in Lesotho. The path to success was not without its obstacles. Lucy and Ntolo faced numerous challenges, from unreliable suppliers to navigating the economic disruptions caused by the pandemic.  Yet, their perseverance paid off, and in 2022, they took a major step forward by opening a physical shop in Maseru’s LANFE building. This move not only increased their visibility but also solidified customer trust in their products.

In May 2023, Ntolo made the bold decision to leave her 10-year banking career to focus full-time on Habo Khoho. It was a pivotal moment for the company, signalling a commitment to growth and the development of a sustainable business model.  By September of the same year, Habo Khoho was officially registered, with both Lucy and Ntolo serving as directors.

Today, Habo Khoho employs eight full-time staff members, including four women and four men, all dedicated to driving the company’s mission forward.  For Lucy, who is now 70 years old, the success of Habo Khoho is a source of immense pride. A former educator and ordained pastor with over 30 years of entrepreneurial experience, Lucy has turned her passion for poultry farming into a thriving business that continues to impact the lives of many.

As Habo Khoho continues to expand, Lucy and Ntolo remain committed to building long-term relationships with their customers, suppliers, and community partners.  They aim to cement their place as a leading supplier of chicken products in Lesotho while staying true to their core mission of empowering local farmers.

For Lucy, seeing her daughter take the reins and building upon the foundation she laid is a dream come true.  “It makes me proud to see Ntolo leading the company with such passion and dedication,” she says. “She has taken Habo Khoho to new heights, and I know that the future is bright.”

For Ntolo, the responsibility of carrying her mother’s legacy is both an honour and a privilege.  “This business is a reflection of everything my mother taught me about hard work, resilience, and community,” Ntolo says. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue what she started, and I’m excited about what the future holds for Habo Khoho.”

With Lucy’s wisdom and Ntolo’s innovation, Habo Khoho is not just a business — it is a beacon of hope and empowerment for the people of Lesotho, and a legacy that will continue to grow for generations to come.