Broadwell gets right to operate

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BROADWELL Farm abattoir, about 4km outside Plumtree, was last week certified as the first abattoir to slaughter pigs, goats and sheep at the border town.

BROADWELL Farm abattoir, about 4km outside Plumtree, was last week certified as the first abattoir to slaughter pigs, goats and sheep at the border town.

BATANAI MUTASA OWN CORRESPONDENT

The only other abattoir in the southern region of the country certified to slaughter pigs is at the Midlands mining town of Zvishavane.

Ben Pretorious, Broadwell Farm abattoir owner, said he had managed to cater for pig farmers as the only other abattoir along that route Mbokodo is certified to slaughter cattle.

“People have been travelling long distances to as far as Bulawayo to get slaughterhouse services for their pigs, goats and sheep, but now I have brought the service to their doorstep,” Pretorius said.

abattoirs
abattoirs

The abattoir is expected to be fully operational by February 2015 and currently employs 10 people.

“Since we can now legally operate, people can bring in their animals for slaughter and other services. After we start operating at full capacity, we intend to grow steadily and be able to slaughter up to 150 pigs per day,” he added.

He, however, said expansion would be determined by the market since Matabeleland is a limited pork consumer and it would be baseless to overproduce.

Pretorius said he kept 500 pigs and 450 sheep at Broadwell Farm, but was willing to accommodate other farmers’ animals brought for slaughter. He allayed fears of competition from other parts of the country stifling his business operations saying prices in Matabeleland were fair.

“They can try and come in, but they will lose out. Currently we are supplying large supermarket chains such as OK, and to people as far off as Victoria Falls,” he said.

Pretorius implored local residents to support such local initiatives saying this could have immense benefits to communities