African Farming: How Tumi Mokwene Built Phetogo Farming Into a 900 000-Bird Enterprise

Phetogo Farming Enterprise has expanded from an initial 13 000 broiler chicks placed on a single farm in Kameeldrift into a commercial poultry operation placing nearly 900 000 birds per production cycle across three sites, African Farming reported. Founded by Tumi Mokwene in 2006, the South African business operates production facilities in Bronkhorstspruit, Lanseria, and Kameeldrift while employing more than 50 people.

Roots in North West Agriculture and University Deliveries

Mokwene grew up in Legonyane Village within the Madibeng Local Municipality in North West, where agriculture formed a regular part of family life. His mother maintained a household food garden while his father balanced factory work with cattle farming. Those cattle supported the family, leaving a lasting impression on Mokwene.

Poultry farming entered his experience through an uncle who operated a small broiler farm near Winterveldt. While studying at the University of Pretoria, Mokwene regularly helped deliver chicks and feed to that farm, gaining early exposure to the mechanics of poultry production.

Purpose and the Launch of Phetogo Farming Enterprise

The decision to build his own agricultural business followed a church service in Sunnyside where the pastor discussed discovering personal purpose. Mokwene reflected on his childhood farming observations, particularly recalling instances where farm workers were transported on trailers under poor conditions.

That realization convinced him that agricultural enterprises could improve the lives of workers alongside food production. He established Phetogo Farming Enterprise in 2006, choosing a name that means change to reflect the foundational principle of the business.

Contract-Growing and the Push for Operational Efficiency

The enterprise supplies approximately 900 000 broilers per production cycle under a long-standing contract-growing agreement with Festive, a division of Astral Foods. Mokwene notes that this partnership exposes the business to established production systems, standard operating procedures, and technical support.

Our goal has never been simply to produce more chickens. The goal is to become more efficient. If you modernise your operation but fail to improve production efficiency, then bigger numbers alone do not make you more profitable.

Tumi Mokwene

Mokwene emphasizes that infrastructure and technology cannot substitute for disciplined management. The infrastructure can be world-class, the technology can be the best available, but if you don’t have passionate people driving that system every day, it simply won’t work, he states.

Employee Incentives and Accountability Across Operations

Phetogo invests heavily in performance management and production incentives to give workers clear targets and bonus structures. This approach encourages employees to take ownership of flock performance rather than viewing their duties as a routine job.

Accountability extends beyond poultry house workers to administrative and support functions when production targets are missed. Management evaluates procurement, maintenance, and finance to identify specific operational breakdowns. You cannot blame workers for everything. The office must deliver. Procurement must deliver. Finance must deliver. Everyone contributes to production, Mokwene explains.