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DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17696834
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Abb e ia ed Key Ti le: Is g J Econ Bus Manag
ISSN: 2584-0916 (Online)
Jou nal homepage: h ps://is gpublishe s.com/is gjebm/
Volume – III Issue - VI (No embe -Decembe ) 2025
F equency: Bimon hly
B idging Skills De elopmen and Ag ibusiness: E alua ing he Poul y Laye
P og amme a Ge Sibande TVET College
Bongani June Mwale1*, Maphe o Anno-F empong2, Nka eko Maluleke3
Sci-Bono Disco e y Cen e, Sou h A ica 1, 3
Cn . Mi iam Makeba & Lilian Ngoyi S ee , New Town – Johannesbu g, 2001
T anspo Educa ion and T aining Au ho i y (TETA), Sou h A ica 2
TETA House, 344 P e o ia A e, Randbu g – Johannesbu g, 2001
| Recei ed: 17.11.2025 | Accep ed: 22.11.2025 | Published: 24.11.2025
*Co esponding au ho : Bongani June Mwale
Sci-Bono Disco e y Cen e, Sou h A ica
Abs ac
You h unemploymen emains one o Sou h A ica’s mos p essing economic and social challenges, wi h Technical and Voca ional
Educa ion and T aining (TVET) colleges posi ioned as key ins i u ions in he ansi ion om educa ion o employmen . While TVET
colleges aim o p oduce wo k- eady g adua es, a pe sis en gap emains be ween heo e ical ins uc ion and p ac ical applica ion,
pa icula ly in ag icul u e- ela ed p og ammes. To imp o e Wo k-In eg a ed Lea ning (WIL), you h en e p ise incuba ion, and
local ag ibusiness alue-chain in eg a ion, his quali a i e case s udy in es iga es he iabili y and educa ional alue o s a ing a
poul y laye en e p ise a Ge Sibande TVET College's D iepoo a m (Pe dekop, Mpumalanga). Th ough semi-s uc u ed
in e iews, documen e iews, and si e obse a ions, he s udy ga he ed da a om 15 s akeholde s (10 s uden s, 2 lec u e s, 2
depu y p incipals, and 1 a m manage ) using pu posi e sampling. Thema ic analysis was used o analyse he da a. The indings
indica e ha D iepoo is an unde u ilised ins i u ional asse , possessing su icien land, wa e , and basic in as uc u e; a s ong
and consis en local demand o eggs; a signi ican le el o s uden in e es in ag ibusiness; and ins i u ional endo semen o an
in eg a ed aining- o-en e p ise model. The need o o mal ma ke links and echnical men o ship, eed-cos ola ili y, capi al
equi emen s o housing and biosecu i y, and inadequa e ope a ional coo dina ion a e some o he majo obs acles ha ha e been
iden i ied. The s udy shows ha a phased implemen a ion can imp o e local ood secu i y, p oduce a ious e enue s eams
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DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17696834
118
1. In oduc ion
The you h unemploymen a e in Sou h A ica has eached a c isis
le el, wi h he expanded unemploymen a e o people aged 15 o
34 consis en ly abo e 60 pe cen (S a is ics Sou h A ica, 2024). In
his con ex , Technical and Voca ional Educa ion and T aining
(TVET) colleges play a key ole in p epa ing people o jobs,
helping hem mo e in o he job ma ke , and making su e e e yone
can pa icipa e in he economy. Ne e heless, despi e his di ec i e,
nume ous g adua es encoun e di icul ies secu ing employmen o
launching en ep eneu ial ini ia i es due o inadequa e exposu e o
au hen ic ope a ional se ings, insu icien p ac ical skills, and a
lack o o ganised pa hways o en e p ise de elopmen (S a is ics
Sou h A ica, 2024). The dispa i y be ween ins i u ional aining
and labou ma ke equi emen s indica es p o ound sys emic issues
ha necessi a e inno a i e s a egies in cu iculum de elopmen ,
wo k-in eg a ed lea ning (WIL), and localised economic
in eg a ion (Daka e al., 2023).
Ag icul u e is s ill i al o Sou h A ica's u al economy and
socie y. I is s ill he main sou ce o ood, jobs, and egional
g ow h. In p o inces like Mpumalanga, whe e he wea he is
a ou able, he e a e es ablished ag icul u al co ido s, and people
ha e been a ming o a long ime, ag ibusiness is a big bu
unde used oppo uni y o young people o become in ol ed.
Ne e heless, nascen ag ip eneu s o en ace s uc u al
impedimen s, such as es ic ed access o aining, insu icien
s a -up capi al, agile ma ke connec ions, and inadequa e
amilia i y wi h comme cial p oduc ion s anda ds. These
limi a ions diminish he capaci y o ag icul u e o unc ion as a
scalable a enue o you h employmen and u al economic
ad ancemen (Ag iSA, 2024; Mpundu & Bopape, 2022).
In his case, aising chickens, especially o eggs, is a simple and
cheap way o s a a business in ag icul u e. Poul y businesses
ypically equi e less capi al o launch, enjoy consis en cus ome
demand, and ope a e wi hin p edic able p oduc ion cycles. This
makes hem a bene icial choice o small businesses and people
who a e jus s a ing ou . Laye en e p ises o e ex a bene i s by
making money h ough cons an egg p oduc ion, which c ea es
chances o egula cash low and pa icipa ion in he ma ke . Eggs
a e also a di ec way o ensu e ha amilies and communi ies ha e
enough ood. This is because hey a e cheap, heal hy, and can be
used in p og ammes like school nu i ion schemes (Josephson,
2018).
The idea o se up a poul y laye business a Ge Sibande TVET
College's D iepoo a m in Pe dekop is a imely and s a egic
mo e. By making he a m a place o bo h aining and business, i
p o ides people a chance o s eng hen he link be ween lea ning
new skills and pu ing hem o use in he eal wo ld o ag ibusiness.
The ini ia i e aligns wi h na ional skills and employmen policies
while add essing p essing socioeconomic needs in Mpumalanga by
inco po a ing p oduc ion ac i i ies in o he cu iculum, imp o ing
WIL oppo uni ies, suppo ing s uden businesses, and using local
alue chains. This a icle looks a he p oposed en e p ise om
di e en angles, including i s ideas, policies, ope a ions, and
inances. I also shows how i could be a scalable, ins i u ion-based
way o combine TVET lea ning wi h sus ainable ag ibusiness
g ow h (Fi enzy, 2025; Fa i ai Ruse e e al., 2023; Ogu , 2023).
1.1 Backg ound and Con ex
The pu pose o Technical and Voca ional Educa ion and T aining
(TVET) colleges in Sou h A ica is o p o ide a skills-based
educa ion sys em ha can u n ou skilled a isans, echnicians, and
en ep eneu s who can make a eal di e ence in he coun y's
de elopmen . As pa o he la ge plan o imp o e skills a e
apa heid, TVET ins i u ions we e supposed o close he gap
be ween school and wo k by o e ing p og ammes ha we e
simila o wha businesses and he economy needed. Howe e ,
he e a e s ill wo ies abou how employable g adua es a e and how
well college p og ammes mee he changing needs o he job
ma ke . People o en say ha one o he bigges p oblems is ha
he e a e no enough Wo k-In eg a ed Lea ning (WIL)
oppo uni ies, especially in u al and semi- u al a eas whe e he e
a e ew p i a e sec o businesses ha can manage many s uden s a
once (Mole e & Ngema, 2023). Wi hou s uc u ed, eal-wo ld
p ac ical expe ience, many s uden s inish hei deg ees wi hou he
skills hey need o wo k well in ag icul u al, echnical, o indus ial
se ings. This gap be ween lea ning in he class oom and pu ing i
in o p ac ice hu s bo h g adua e con idence and eadiness o he
job ma ke (Njengele e al., 2024).
Mpumalanga P o ince has a di e se ag icul u al economy ha
includes o es y, li es ock, poul y, ho icul u e, and ield c op
p oduc ion. This is ue o he p o ince as a whole. The p o ince
has pu mo e ocus on a ming p og ammes o young people, he
g ow h o ag o-p ocessing hubs, and he p omo ion o coope a i e-
based business models as pa o i s plan o u al de elopmen .
These policy commi men s show ha people unde s and ha
ag icul u e can be a powe ul ool o c ea ing jobs, making su e
people ha e enough ood, and imp o ing he li es o people in
u al a eas. Bu e en wi h his good policy en i onmen , many
s udies show ha he e a e s ill gaps in ins i u ional coo dina ion,
echnical men o ship, and pos - aining suppo o new small-scale
a me s. Many young people who s a wo king in ag icul u e ha e
a ha d ime mo ing beyond subsis ence o en y-le el p oduc ion
because hey don' ha e easy access o aining a ms, ex ension
se ices, and ma ke -o ien a ed echnical ad ice (Dlodlo, 2025;
Sandhu, 2025; Ma e eche a & Scholes, 2022; R.H. & Wo h,
2020).
(eggs, aining ees, manu e, and spen hens), and yield pedagogical bene i s (1) h ough a m ac i a ion and cu iculum
in eg a ion, (2) h ough s uc u ed en e p ise incuba ion o a chosen g oup o s uden s, and (3) h ough alue-addi ion and
ma ke expansion. The s udy concludes ha a TVET-based laye en e p ise is bo h economically easible and educa ionally
aluable as long as ope a ional isks a e educed by s ong go e nance, biosecu i y p ocedu es, and s a egic alliances (such as
eed supply ag eemen s and o ake con ac s). To ensu e sus ainabili y and scalabili y, he ecommenda ions ocus on es ablishing
incuba ion pa hways o s uden coope a i es, in eg a ing p oduc ion in o assessmen and WIL schedules, ac i a ing a Poul y
En e p ise Cen e o P ac ice, and secu ing echnical and ma ke pa ne ships.
Keywo ds: Poul y Fa ming, TVET Colleges, You h Unemploymen , Skills De elopmen , Ag ibusiness, Wo k In eg a ed Lea ning
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DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17696834
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In his con ex , he D iepoo a m, which is owned and un by Ge
Sibande TVET College, is a aluable bu unde used ins i u ional
asse . The a m has good land and a dependable wa e sou ce and
is close o u al ma ke s and anspo a ion ou es, making i a good
place o ag icul u al aining and business de elopmen . The si e
is mos ly a passi e landholding igh now, bu i could be u ned
in o an ac i e p oduc ion uni ha is ully in eg a ed in o eaching,
lea ning, and Wo k-In eg a ed Lea ning ac i i ies. Wi h he igh
in es men s and planning, he a m could become a dynamic place
o de eloping p ac ical skills, s a ing new businesses, and
p oducing new ideas o u al ag ibusiness. Na ional expec a ions
o TVET colleges o di e si y hei aining me hods, ha e a
bigge impac on he communi y, and ge mo e young people
in ol ed in local economic de elopmen a e in line wi h he need
o make he mos o hese ins i u ional esou ces (Makungo e al.,
2025; Gadanakis, 2024; Ki ui & Kozicka, 2018). Top o Fo m
1.2 P oblem S a emen
Sou h A ica con inues o expe ience high le els o you h
unemploymen , pa icula ly among g adua es om Technical and
Voca ional Educa ion and T aining (TVET) colleges. TVET
schools a e supposed o p o ide s uden s p ac ical aining ha
p epa es hem o jobs, bu many s uden s do no ecei e enough
hands-on expe ience o exposu e o how eal businesses wo k.
Eme ging g adua es in he ag icul u al sec o equen ly encoun e
di icul ies in ansi ioning o sus ainable ag ibusiness en u es
owing o es ic ed access o p oduc ion in as uc u e, men o ship,
and ma ke connec ions. The D iepoo a m a Ge Sibande
TVET College is an ins i u ional asse ha is no being used o i s
ull po en ial, bu i could help wi h p ac ical aining and business
g ow h. Bu his po en ial is no being used because he e is no
s uc u ed model ha connec s aining o unning a poul y a m.
The e o e, we need o come up wi h and ca y ou a poul y laye
business ha combines skills de elopmen , hands-on aining on
he a m, and business incuba ion o imp o e he job p ospec s o
g adua es and make local ag ibusiness alue chains s onge
(Nikisi e al., 2025; Chauke, 2023; Mwale & N sobi, 2023).
1.3 Resea ch Objec i es
To de elop and e alua e a sus ainable poul y laye en e p ise
model ha in eg a es oca ional aining, en e p ise incuba ion, and
local ma ke pa icipa ion a Ge Sibande TVET College’s
D iepoo a m in Mpumalanga.
1. To examine he cu en gaps and limi a ions in p ac ical
ag icul u al aining and en e p ise eadiness among
s uden s a Ge Sibande TVET College.
2. To assess he easibili y o es ablishing a poul y laye
p oduc ion en e p ise a D iepoo a m, including
in as uc u e, p oduc ion inpu s, ope a ional
equi emen s, and ma ke oppo uni ies.
3. To design an in eg a ed aining- o-en e p ise model ha
links heo e ical ins uc ion, Wo k-In eg a ed Lea ning
(WIL), and s uden incuba ion pa hways.
4. To e alua e he po en ial economic, educa ional, and
communi y de elopmen bene i s o he p oposed poul y
en e p ise.
5. To de elop ecommenda ions o he sus ainable
implemen a ion, managemen , and expansion o he
poul y laye en e p ise wi hin he college and local
ag ibusiness alue chain.
1.4 Resea ch Ques ions
1. Wha a e he exis ing challenges in p ac ical ag icul u al
aining and g adua e employabili y a Ge Sibande
TVET College?
2. Wha in as uc u al, ope a ional, and ma ke condi ions
a e equi ed o es ablish a iable poul y laye en e p ise
a D iepoo a m?
3. How can oca ional aining, p ac ical a m-based
lea ning, and en e p ise incuba ion be e ec i ely
in eg a ed in o one cohesi e model?
4. Wha economic, educa ional, and social impac s could
he poul y laye en e p ise ha e on s uden s, he college,
and su ounding communi ies?
5. Wha s a egies a e necessa y o ensu e he sus ainabili y
and scalabili y o he en e p ise wi hin he b oade
ag ibusiness ecosys em?
1.5 Ra ionale o he S udy
The jus i ica ion o his s udy is based on i s impo ance o you h
employabili y, local economic g ow h, ins i u ional s abili y, and
policy cohe ence. I seeks o b idge he di ide be ween heo e ical
knowledge and p ac ical skills among TVET g adua es, he eby
imp o ing hei employabili y and oppo uni ies o sel -
employmen . Poul y laye businesses can help people in u al
a eas by making money, g owing ood, and s a ing small
businesses. Se ing up a success ul business a D iepoo Fa m will
b ing in money, make TVET p og ams mo e use ul, and s eng hen
he college's s a egic ole in communi y de elopmen . The s udy
also i s wi h na ional and p o incial goals o ag o-p ocessing,
ood secu i y, coope a i e de elopmen , and you h
en ep eneu ship (Yus ana, 2025; Selane & Odeku, 2024; Se iadi
e al., 2020).
2. Li e a u e Re iew
2.1 Skills De elopmen , Employabili y, and Wo k-
In eg a ed Lea ning
Voca ional and echnical educa ion sys ems inc easingly ecognise
he de elopmen o skills as a mul i ace ed p ocess ha goes
beyond he me e acquisi ion o heo e ical knowledge.
Employabili y depends on a g adua e's abili y o ind and keep a
job o s a hei own business, along wi h a combina ion o
cogni i e, echnical, and en ep eneu ial skills (Jackson, 2020). In
labou ma ke s wi h high you h unemploymen and uns able wage
oppo uni ies, especially in de eloping economies like Sou h
A ica, employabili y is no jus abou ge ing a job. I is also abou
being able o p oduce new ideas, change, and do economic
ac i i ies on you own. TVET colleges a e impo an because hey
supply g adua es p ac ical, ma ke - esponsi e skills ha help hem
mo e om school o wo k (Ja a o , 2025; Zuo e al., 2025).
Many people ag ee ha Wo k-In eg a ed Lea ning (WIL) is one o
he bes ways o imp o e job p ospec s. WIL makes s uden s mo e
compe en , con iden , and eady o wo k by gi ing hem eal-wo ld
asks, indus y s anda ds, and p o essional no ms. These
expe ien ial elemen s assis s uden s in con ex ualising hei
heo e ical knowledge, enhancing p oblem-sol ing skills, and
assimila ing he discipline-speci ic beha iou s an icipa ed in he
labou ma ke . Resea ch indica es ha WIL os e s ans e sal
skills, including communica ion, eamwo k, esponsibili y, and
adap abili y, which employe s consis en ly ega d as c ucial o
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e ec i e wo kplace in eg a ion (Lubbe & S ensson, 2022;
Go ende & Wai , 2017).
E en hough WIL has bene i s, i is s ill challenging o pu in o
p ac ice in he Sou h A ican TVET sec o because o s uc u al
p oblems. Many schools ha e ouble ge ing enough pa ne ships
wi h businesses because hey do no ha e enough placemen space,
hei campuses a e oo a apa , and he e a e bo lenecks in ce ain
indus ies ha make i impossible o p i a e companies o ake on
la ge g oups o s uden s. This is especially challenging o
ag icul u al aining, whe e a ms and ag ibusinesses may no ha e
he money, he abili y o ollow he ules, o he size o hos
s uden s. Consequen ly, s uden s equen ly a ain quali ica ions
wi hou su icien exposu e o p ac ical con ex s, he eby
comp omising hei con idence and employmen p ospec s (N hako
& Khumalo, 2025; Bhili ane e al., 2024).
In ligh o hese challenges, he li e a u e inc easingly poin s o he
impo ance o campus-based en e p ise models as a s a egic
al e na i e o acili a ing subs an i e, high-quali y expe ien ial
lea ning. These kinds o models pu p oduc ion ac i i ies igh in
he class oom, so colleges can mimic eal-wo ld condi ions while
s ill being esponsible o eaching, scheduling, and esou ce
alloca ion. Campus businesses, like poul y uni s, c op p oduc ion
si es, o ag ibusiness hubs, p o ide s uden s he chance o lea n
abou he whole p oduc ion p ocess, make decisions, manage isks,
and unde s and how he ma ke wo ks. Addi ionally, hey os e
a enues o s uden en ep eneu ship by exposing lea ne s o
business ope a ions, cos s uc u es, supply chains, and en e p ise
de elopmen p ocesses ha enhance hei echnical aining
(Gab ielsson e al., 2024; Medina e al., 2020).
Fu he mo e, li e a u e on employabili y unde sco es ha
en ep eneu ial compe encies a e essen ial o adap ing o e ol ing
labou ma ke s, cha ac e ised by a decline in adi ional wage
employmen . Mo e and mo e, g adua es need o be able o spo
oppo uni ies, ga he esou ces, p oduce new ideas, and un small
businesses. TVET ins i u ions a e impo an o mo e han jus
ge ing g adua es eady o jobs. They also help people s a hei
own businesses and wo k oge he wi h businesses ha i in wi h
he local economy. Campus-based ag ibusiness ope a ions, like he
p oposed poul y laye en e p ise a D iepoo a m, i well wi h
his new way o hinking because hey p o ide s uden s hands-on
expe ience ha combines echnical skills wi h business
de elopmen exposu e (Ma abane e al., 2024; McG a h & Russon,
2023).
The li e a u e collec i ely asse s ha enhancing employabili y
necessi a es a cohesi e s a egy ha combines heo e ical
educa ion, o ganised p ac ical expe ience, and he de elopmen o
en ep eneu ial skills. In si ua ions whe e ex e nal WIL placemen s
a e sca ce, ins i u ionally managed en e p ise si es p esen a
easible and pedagogically obus al e na i e o acili a ing wo k-
in eg a ed lea ning, imp o ing g adua e ou comes, and os e ing
communi y-d i en economic de elopmen . This heo e ical
amewo k unde pins he jus i ica ion o inco po a ing a poul y
laye en e p ise in o he educa ional and en ep eneu ial
de elopmen ac i i ies o Ge Sibande TVET College (Bo ha &
Ama al, 2025; Moalosi e al., 2022).
2.2 Ag ibusiness as a D i e o Ru al De elopmen
Ag ibusiness plays a signi ican ole in d i ing u al de elopmen ,
pa icula ly in egions whe e ag icul u e emains a dominan
economic ac i i y and a p ima y sou ce o li elihoods. The sec o
no only helps make ood, bu i also c ea es jobs, b ings in money,
and boos s local alue chains (FAO, 2021). Many de eloping
coun ies, including Sou h A ica, inc easingly iew ag ibusiness
as a s a egic d i e o u al change. This is because i connec s
p ima y ag icul u al p oduc ion wi h p ocessing, logis ics, e ail,
and se ice- ela ed ac i i ies. This in e connec edness le s
ag ibusiness ha e a ipple e ec on u al economies, aising bo h
household income and he economy's abili y o bounce back om
shocks (Rahmani, 2024; Dhillon & Moncu , 2023).
A g owing body o esea ch shows ha alue chain in eg a ion is
c ucial o he success o ag ibusiness in e en ions. Isola ed
p ima y p oduc ion o en yields limi ed e u ns, whe eas
en e p ises embedded in well-s uc u ed alue chains—such as
poul y, ho icul u e, o li es ock sys ems—bene i om
economies o scale, p edic able demand, and access o di e si ied
ma ke s. Value chain de elopmen also makes businesses mo e
compe i i e by making i easie o p oduce s, p ocesso s, inpu
supplie s, and buye s o wo k oge he . In u al a eas, his kind o
in eg a ion is essen ial o smallholde a me s, new en ep eneu s,
and businesses un by young people o be able o ake ad an age o
new oppo uni ies (Mahali Elizabe h Lesala e al., 2025).
Access o aining and echnical assis ance is ano he impo an
ac o in he long- e m success o ag ibusiness. S udies on u al
de elopmen indica e ha a me s and ag ip eneu s need o keep
lea ning abou hings like biosecu i y, p oduc ion echniques,
inancial managemen , and compliance s anda ds. Tele ision
colleges, ag icul u al aining cen es, and de elopmen agencies
a e examples o ins i u ions ha p o ide s uc u ed ex ension
se ices, hands-on demons a ions, and business suppo . These
ins i u ions a e c ucial o de eloping hese skills. Ag ibusiness
ini ia i es endo sed by aining ins i u ions a e mo e likely o h i e
due o hei inco po a ion o skills de elopmen , on-si e men o ing,
and ongoing capaci y enhancemen (Madende e al., 2024;
Rasanjali e al., 2021).
Addi ionally, he g ow h o ag ibusiness in u al a eas is hea ily
dependen on how easily businesses can access o ma ke s. Ma ke
linkage sys ems, such as o mal con ac s, agg ega ion cen es,
coope a i es, o communi y-suppo ed ag icul u e models, gi e
u al p oduce s s able demand, lowe ansac ion cos s, and
chances o g ow hei businesses. Small-scale ag ibusinesses ha e
a di icul ime making money om hei p oduc ion when hey
canno gain eliable access o ma ke s. This leads o uns able
income and less o an economic impac . So, p og ammes ha
pu pose ully connec wi h e aile s, p ocesso s, school nu i ion
p og ammes, and local ma ke s a e impo an o u al
de elopmen (Ab aham e al., 2022).
In Sou h A ica, mo e and mo e people a e seeing he connec ion
be ween ag ibusiness de elopmen and u al educa ion and aining
sys ems as a way o p o ide young people mo e powe and c ea e
jobs. TVET colleges, in pa icula , can be cen es o inno a ion in
u al a eas by p o iding echnical aining, helping businesses ge
s a ed, and connec ing new ag ip eneu s wi h people in he alue
chain. The c ea ion o a poul y laye business a he D iepoo
a m o Ge Sibande TVET College i s wi h hese goals o
g ow h because i combines aining, p oduc ion, and s uc u ed
ma ke engagemen in a u al se ing (N hoesane & Teele, 2024;
Geza e al., 2022).
2.3 Poul y Value Chains in Sou h A ica
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Sou h A ica’s poul y sec o is among he mos es ablished and
comme cially signi ican componen s o he na ional ag icul u al
economy, con ibu ing o ood secu i y, employmen , and ag o-
p ocessing ac i i ies. The poul y indus y makes up a ai ly
complex alue chain. E en hough he ans o ma ion has
happened, he e is s ill a dual sys em: la ge comme cial p oduce s
con ol he o mal ma ke , while small and new p oduce s mos ly
use in o mal channels. This s uc u al imbalance a ec s how
bene i s and limi a ions in he alue chain a e sha ed ac oss he
sec o (Pius e al., 2021; Nkukwana, 2018).
Small-scale poul y a me s s ill ha e a lo o ouble wi h he
p ices o eed and inpu s. S udies show ha eed cos s accoun o
60–70% o all p oduc ion cos s. This means ha p oduc ion is
sensi i e o changes in global g ain p ices, cu ency luc ua ions,
and supply shocks a home. Small p oduce s also ha e ouble
ge ing cheap day-old chicks, e e ina y supplies, and ene gy
inpu s. These cos p essu es make i ha de o make money and
g ow, especially o businesses in u al a eas ha do no ha e much
ba gaining powe o ways o buy in bulk. La ge businesses, on he
o he hand, lowe cos s by using in eg a ed supply chains, long-
e m con ac s, and economies o scale. Because o his, mo e and
mo e sec o analys s a e calling o ac ions ha will help new
a me s by making local eed al e na i es s onge , allowing
a me s o buy inpu s oge he , and eaching hem how o make
hings mo e e icien ly (A ia e al., 2022; Lamb & She man,
2010).
E en wi h hese p oblems, he e is always a s ong demand o
poul y p oduc s, especially eggs. Supe ma ke s, in o mal e aile s,
es au an s, and ownship-based endo s, as well as ins i u ional
buye s like school nu i ion p og ammes, hospi als, colleges, and
p isons, all d i e demand. Eggs a e a e y appealing p oduc
because hey a e cheap and heal hy, and people o all income le els
ea hem a a s eady a e. The dis ibu ion o eggs hea ily elies on
he in o mal economy. I gi es small p oduce s and you h
businesses a chance o s a hei businesses (Mi chell, 2025;
A ican T ade Pla o m, 2023).
Because egg p ices and a ailabili y a e cons an ly changing, he e
is also mo e oom o subs i u es in local ma ke s. In he pas ew
yea s, ou b eaks o a ian in luenza in Sou h A ica ha e caused
supply p oblems ha led o culling, empo a y sho ages, and p ice
inc eases. Changes in impo s ha e also a ec ed ma ke s abili y,
showing how agile he na ional supply chain is o shocks om
ou side he coun y. These changes make i possible o
decen alised local p oduce s o ill supply gaps, especially in u al
and pe i-u ban a eas whe e la ge comme cial supplie s ha e highe
dis ibu ion cos s (Poul y Wo ld, 2023).
The e o e, making i easie o small-scale p oduce s o become
in ol ed in he poul y alue chain is bene icial o bo h he
economy and ood secu i y. Localised p oduc ion models, like
TVET-based poul y businesses, can make communi ies mo e
esilien by sho ening supply chains, encou aging young people o
s a hei own businesses, and keeping he egg supply s eady
du ing imes o na ional dis up ion. The D iepoo a m p ojec
pu s Ge Sibande TVET College in a a ou able posi ion o help
in eg a e he egional alue chain by making eggs, eaching
s uden s how o be ag ip eneu s, and connec ing businesses un by
s uden s wi h e ail and ins i u ional ma ke s (Ukaoha, 2023;
Ga cia-Do ado e al., 2021).
2.4 P ojec Concep : Poul y Laye En e p ise a
D iepoo Fa m
The objec i e o he p oposed ag icul u al business concep was o
o e s uden s p ac ical, compe ency-based aining, gene a e
e enue o sus ain he school, c ea e a pla o m o s uden -
ope a ed ag icul u al en e p ises, and enhance ood secu i y in
Pe dekop and su ounding owns. To accomplish his, he
en e p ise equi ed acili ies such as laye houses wi h adequa e
space o s o age; egula ed hea ing, ligh ing, and en ila ion
sys ems; eed s o age silos and mixing acili ies; biosecu i y ga es;
sani a ion s a ions; disease moni o ing p o ocols; egg handling,
packaging, and s o age a eas; in addi ion o wa e pu i ica ion
sys ems and backup powe sou ces. The i s capaci y would
encompass a beginning lock o 1,500 o 2,000 laying hens. Hens
a e p ojec ed o commence egg-laying a 18 o 20 weeks o age and
will con inue o a du a ion o 72 o 80 weeks. To ensu e a
consis en supply o eggs, p oduc ion cycles may be s agge ed
(Magadla e al., 2024).
2.5 Economic Feasibili y and Re enue Model
The economic easibili y o a poul y laye en e p ise wi hin a
TVET con ex depends on i s abili y o espond o local ma ke
demand, main ain cos -e ec i e ope a ions, and gene a e
di e si ied e enue s eams. In Sou h A ica, he demand o eggs
is always high, and buye s come om bo h o mal and in o mal
ma ke s. Re ail s o es, supe ma ke s, ownship ade s, s ee
endo s, school nu i ion p og ams, and households in u al and
pe i-u ban a eas a e some o he mos impo an g oups ha need
hese p oduc s. Eggs a e a common sou ce o p o ein in Sou h
A ica because hey a e cheap, heal hy, and cul u ally accep ed.
This means ha people o all income le els ea hem a lo . They a e
also ideal o in o mal ma ke s because hey a e simple o ca y
and sha e. Many low-income amilies like o buy ood in small,
cheap amoun s. Such an a angemen makes he ma ke s able and
easy o ge o o new p oduce s who wo k on a small o medium
scale (Ramukhi hi e al., 2023; Simelane, 2023).
F om a inancial pe spec i e, he en e p ise mus incu expenses
o se e al c i ical ac o s ha in luence i s o e all sus ainabili y.
Acqui ing laye chicks o poin -o -lay hens is a singula expense;
howe e , eed ep esen s he mos signi ican ecu ing
expendi u e, accoun ing o up o 70% o o e all cos s in poul y
ope a ions. This aligns wi h he p e ailing ends in he business,
whe e global g ain p ices, cu ency luc ua ions, and supply chain
dis up ions collec i ely in luence p oduc ion cos s o eme ging
a me s. Expenses include accina ions, ou ine e e ina ian
ea men o main ain lock heal h and mi iga e disease isk,
u ili ies such as elec ici y and wa e , and pe sonnel o a m
o e sigh , eco d-keeping, and daily managemen ac i i ies. The
upkeep o in as uc u e, encompassing he es o a ion o housing
s uc u es, eede s, and en i onmen al con ol sys ems, also adds o
con inuous ope a ional expenses. To es ablish an accu a e budge
and de e mine he b eak-e en poin , i is essen ial o iden i y he
cos d i e s (Po al, 2025; Nkukwana, 2018).
Re enue gene a ion wi hin he en e p ise will be di e si ied o
enhance sus ainabili y and educe sensi i i y o ma ke
luc ua ions. The p ima y e enue s eam will come om egg
sales, which may be o e ed in ays, in bulk o e aile s, o in
smalle quan i ies sui ed o in o mal ade s. Eggs can also be sold
o schools and o he ins i u ions ha buy hem o eeding
p og ammes. These p og ammes c ea e s able, ongoing demand
and lowe ma ke ing cos s. The business can make money in
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addi ion o selling eggs by cha ging o aining p og ammes
ela ed o ag icul u e and Wo k-In eg a ed Lea ning (WIL), which
includes p ac ical a m expe ience as pa o s uden assessmen
and cu iculum in eg a ion. Selling chicken manu e, which is a
highly sough -a e o ganic e ilise by ege able g owe s and
small-scale c op a me s, can add e en mo e alue. A he end o
each p oduc ion cycle, spen hens can be sold as cheap mea o
homes, ade s, and in o mal bu che ies. This p ocedu e c ea es
ano he sou ce o income ha makes he mos o he asse s
(Va y oda e al., 2021; Hilmi, 2019).
These combined income s eams c ea e a blended e enue model
ha in eg a es p oduc ion, aining, and alue-adding ac i i ies,
he eby enhancing inancial esilience. The model aligns wi h bes
p ac ices in ag ibusiness de elopmen , whe e di e si ica ion
educes ope a ional isk and con ibu es o long- e m en e p ise
sus ainabili y. In he con ex o Ge Sibande TVET College, his
in eg a ed e enue s uc u e also s eng hens he ins i u ion’s
capaci y o suppo s uden lea ning while gene a ing income ha
can be ein es ed in o a m imp o emen s, aining esou ces, and
en e p ise expansion (Fundi a, 2025; Raji e al., 2024).
2.6 Policy and S a egic Alignmen
The poul y ag ibusiness ini ia i e is in line wi h sec o -speci ic,
p o incial, and na ional policy amewo ks ha place a high
p io i y on you h employmen , skill de elopmen , and u al
economic ans o ma ion. A he na ional le el, he p ojec
p omo es he Na ional De elopmen Plan's (NDP) en e p ise
de elopmen and employmen impe a i es, especially i s emphasis
on boos ing ag icul u al alue chains and lowe ing you h
unemploymen . Addi ionally, i endo ses he Dis ic De elopmen
Model (DDM), which places a s ong emphasis on localised,
in eg a ed de elopmen solu ions ha add ess he dis inc i e
socioeconomic cha ac e is ics o municipali ies and dis ic s
(Adeyanju e al., 2023; Geza e al., 2022; Dube e al., 2016).
2.7 Implemen a ion F amewo k
2.7.1Phase 1: Fa m Ac i a ion and T aining In eg a ion
Es ablishing he academic alignmen and undamen al
in as uc u e needed o ope a ionalise he poul y ag ibusiness a
he D iepoo a m is he main goal o phase 1. To gua an ee
biosecu i y compliance, ideal en ila ion, and capaci y o bo h
b oile and laye p oduc ion sys ems, his p ojec en ails
emodelling and ou i ing e e y poul y house. The a m's
ac i i ies will be o mally inco po a ed in o pe inen TVET
cu icula, especially in Ag icul u e, P ima y Ag icul u e, and
Animal P oduc ion p og ammes, a e he physical in as uc u e
has been es o ed and is ope a ing a ull capaci y. This in eg a ion
will di ec ly expose s uden s o eal-wo ld, compe ency-based a m
ope a ions in hei eaching and lea ning ac i i ies. To u he
o ganise s uden in ol emen h oughou p oduc ion cycles, Wo k-
In eg a ed Lea ning (WIL) o a ional schedules will be de eloped.
This will enable coho s o pa icipa e in ac i i ies like ha es ing,
eeding, immunisa ion, eco dkeeping, and en i onmen al
moni o ing. Du ing his s age, he a m se es as a p oduc ion
loca ion and a eaching space ha enhances TVET s uden s'
expe ien ial lea ning (S eyn, 2025; Fakude, 2024).
2.7.2 Phase 2: En e p ise Incuba ion
Phase 2 ocuses on c ea ing a s uc u ed en e p ise incuba ion
pipeline o con e s uden compe encies in o long- e m
en ep eneu ial oppo uni ies. This phase selec s he bes s uden s
om he WIL o a ions and p ac ical aining based on hei o e all
en ep eneu ial po en ial, echnical skills, abili y o wo k well wi h
o he s, punc uali y, and ollowing biosecu i y ules. These chosen
s uden s ecei e ocused assis ance o es ablish coope a i es o
mic obusinesses ha a e in line wi h he alue chains o poul y,
including he p oduc ion o b oile s, he sale o eggs, he
o mula ion o eed, was e- o-compos businesses, and inpu supply
se ices. (A ū as Ju gele ičius e al., 2025; Mo lhaudi, 2025)
The college hen nego ia es o ake ag eemen s wi h e aile s,
bu che ies, school nu i ion p og ammes, in o mal ade s, and
communi y ma ke s o acili a e ma ke access in collabo a ion
wi h sec o pa ne s and local ag ibusiness s akeholde s. This
lowe s ea ly-s age ma ke en y ba ie s and imp o es pos - aining
economic ou comes by posi ioning s uden -led businesses o
ins an engagemen in local economic ecosys ems. This incuba ion
s age makes su e ha he poul y p ojec de elops beyond aining
and becomes a d i ing o ce o communi y ood secu i y, u al
en e p ise g ow h, and you h employmen (Ma umo & Mabuza,
2018).
2.7.3Phase 3: Value Chain and Ma ke Expansion
By g owing i s alue chain ope a ions and bols e ing i s ma ke
p esence, phase h ee aims o posi ion he poul y business o
long- e m compe i i eness. A small-scale egg g ading and
packaging acili y is in oduced a he s a o his phase, allowing
o be e quali y assu ance, inc eased p oduc di e en ia ion, and
compliance wi h indus y s anda ds. By in e nalising hese alue-
adding p ocedu es, he company can ad ance beyond p ima y
p oduc ion and inc ease i s p o i ma gins in he poul y alue
chain. Concu en ly, e o s a e di ec ed owa d secu ing supply
con ac s wi h e aile s, ins i u ional buye s, school nu i ion
p og ammes, hospi als, and hospi ali y es ablishmen s o gua an ee
s able, high- olume demand. These con ac s imp o e he
company's epu a ion in he local ag ibusiness communi y in
addi ion o gua an eeing s eady e enue s eams. To es ablish he
a m as a eliable supplie wi hin Mpumalanga's ood ecosys em,
he p ojec will c ea e a b anded local p oduc line ha embodies
quali y, eshness, and communi y-based p oduc ion. Phase 3
s eng hens he en e p ise's sus ainabili y while making a
signi ican con ibu ion o egional ood secu i y and u al
economic de elopmen h ough alue chain expansion and
s a egic b anding (Aslam e al., 2020; Mo e & Tempio, 2017).
3. Resea ch Me hodology
3.1 Resea ch Design
This in es iga ion employs a quali a i e case s udy design. Since
he goal o he esea ch is o in es iga e how a poul y laye
en e p ise can be c ea ed and success ully inco po a ed in o Ge
Sibande TVET College's eaching, lea ning, and en e p ise
de elopmen unc ions, he case s udy app oach is app op ia e.
Quali a i e esea ch acili a es a comp ehensi e in es iga ion in o
he expe iences, pe cep ions, and con ex ual ac o s ha shape he
iabili y and execu ion o his ini ia i e. A ho ough analysis o he
D iepoo a m as an ac ual ins i u ional con ex whe e ag ibusiness
ope a ions and ag icul u al aining collide is also made possible by
he case s udy design. The esea ch was conduc ed a he D iepoo
a m o Ge Sibande TVET College in Pe dekop, Mpumalanga—a
s a egically signi ican si e as i p o ides bo h he physical
in as uc u e and ins i u ional en i onmen necessa y o hands-on
ag icul u al aining, Wo k-In eg a ed Lea ning, and he incuba ion
o s uden -led ag ibusiness en e p ises (P iya, 2021; Rebolj, 2013).
3.2 Popula ion and Sampling
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The s udy's a ge popula ion consis s o people who wo k di ec ly
on a ms, in ag icul u al aining p og ammes, and in ins i u ional
planning p ocedu es. To ensu e ha he da a ga he ed is ich,
con ex ually g ounded, and in line wi h he goals o he s udy, a
pu posi e sampling echnique will be used o iden i y pa icipan s
who ha e pe inen knowledge and expe ience. Ten (10) s uden s,
wo (2) lec u e s, wo (2) depu y p incipals (managemen ), and one
(1) a m manage will make up he o al o i een (15) pa icipan s.
The chosen sample size is sui able o p oducing in-dep h
iewpoin s and p omo ing iangula ion among ins i u ional
manage s, academic s a , s uden s, and a m ope a ions pe sonnel
because quali a i e inqui y alues he dep h and ichness o
insigh s o e s a is ical gene alisabili y. Once ecu en pa e ns
we e appa en and no signi ican ly new in o ma ion su aced, da a
sa u a ion was achie ed, indica ing ha he sample was su icien
o answe he esea ch ques ions. (Chowdhu y & Shil, 2021; P iya,
2021).
3.3 Da a Collec ion Me hods
To gua an ee a ho ough g asp o he p ojec con ex and
s akeholde pe spec i es, da a will be ga he ed using a ious
quali a i e me hods. All 15 pa icipan s will pa icipa e in
indi idual semi-s uc u ed in e iews, which will allow o g ea e
explo a ion o hei pe spec i es, expe iences, and insigh s
ega ding a m ope a ions, en e p ise de elopmen , and ag icul u al
aining. Wi h he pa icipan s' pe mission, audio eco dings o
each 25–30-minu e in e iew will be made o gua an ee accu acy
du ing ansc ip ion and analysis. A comp ehensi e documen
e iew will be conduc ed in addi ion o he in e iews, looking a
pe inen policy documen s, p og amme ma e ials, cu iculum
in eg a ion amewo ks, and a m ope a ional eco ds o se he
ins i u ional and s a egic en i onmen in con ex (Chowdhu y &
Shil, 2021; P iya, 2021).
3.4 Da a Analysis
Thema ic analysis, a me hodical quali a i e echnique ha is well-
sui ed o inding pa e ns and meanings in pa icipan esponses,
was employed o analyse he da a o his s udy. Fi s , he
esea che amilia ises hemsel es wi h he in e iew ansc ip s by
eading hem se e al imes o ully comp ehend he iewpoin s o
he pa icipan s. Nex came a coding p ocedu e ha in ol es
classi ying and o ganising impo an s a emen s, concep s, and
ecu en ideas in o analy ical uni s. These codes we e hen
g ouped in o mo e gene al hemes ha we e consis en wi h he
esea ch ques ions. These hemes included he gaps ha cu en ly
exis in p ac ical ag icul u al aining, ope a ional iabili y and
esou ce needs, aining in eg a ion wi h en e p ise de elopmen ,
expec ed bene i s o s uden s and he communi y, and
sus ainabili y and scalabili y conside a ions. To make su e e e y
heme app op ia ely con eys he co e o he da a, heme
de elopmen and in e p e a ion equi ed i e a i e e inemen .
Findings we e iangula ed ac oss se e al da a sou ces, such as
ield obse a ions, documen a y analysis, and in e iews o
imp o e analy ical igou and c edibili y (Chowdhu y & Shil,
2021; P iya, 2021).
3.5 T us wo hiness
By using es ablished quali a i e c i e ia, he s udy's c edibili y was
gua an eed. T iangula ing da a sou ces and iewpoin s educed
esea che bias and alida ed eme ging hemes, which inc eased
c edibili y. Main aining ho ough ield no es, documen ing
me hodological choices, and c ea ing an ex ensi e audi ail ha
de ails he en i e esea ch p ocess— om da a collec ion o
analysis—all helped o ensu e eliabili y. Con i mabili y was
a ained by ensu ing ha all in e p e a ions we e based on
pa icipan esponses and by emaining e lexi e h oughou he
s udy o ensu e ha he esul s ep esen ed he iewpoin s o he
pa icipan s a he han he esea che 's p esump ions. By gi ing
eade s o u u e esea che s de ailed, con ex ualised explana ions
o he esea ch se ing, pa icipan cha ac e is ics, and s udy
p ocedu es, ans e abili y was ein o ced, and he indings'
sui abili y o compa able con ex s was e alua ed. When
combined, hese ac ics imp o ed he s udy's me hodological
soundness and c edibili y (S ahl & King, 2020).
3.6 E hical Conside a ions
Th oughou he s udy, e hical in eg i y was main ained in
compliance wi h na ional e hical s anda ds and ins i u ional
esea ch guidelines. To gua an ee adhe ence o he p inciples o
au onomy, bene icence, and non-male icence, e hical clea ance
was acqui ed om he ele an ins i u ional e hics commi ee p io
o da a collec ion. E e y pa icipan ecei ed a comp ehensi e
b ie ing on he goals, pa ame e s, and me hods o he esea ch,
along wi h gua an ees o anonymi y, con iden iali y, and olun a y
in ol emen . P io o conduc ing in e iews, w i en in o med
consen was ob ained, and pa icipan s we e made awa e o hei
igh o wi hd aw a any ime wi hou incu ing penal ies. All da a
we e sa ely s o ed in passwo d-p o ec ed digi al olde s o p o ec
p i acy, and no pe sonally iden i iable in o ma ion will be sha ed
du ing he analysis o epo ing o esul s. By aking hese
p ecau ions, he esea ch p ocedu e was gua an eed o espec he
igh s o pa icipan s and adhe e o he highes e hical s anda ds
an icipa ed in quali a i e inqui y (Mi za e al., 2023; Ruslin e al.,
2022).
4. Da a P esen a ion and Findings
4.1 In oduc ion o Findings
This sec ion p esen s he main conclusions de i ed om he da a
collec ed h ough semi-s uc u ed in e iews, documen analysis,
and si e obse a ions. The s udy employed hema ic analysis o
iden i y ecu en hemes and insigh s in he 15 pa icipan s'
esponses, which made i possible o in e p e hei expe iences,
opinions, and sugges ions abou s a ing a poul y laye business a
Ge Sibande TVET College in a s uc u ed way. The indings a e
a anged based on hemes ha a e ela ed o he goals o he s udy,
gua an eeing ha he analy ical amewo k and he s udy's
objec i es a e cohe en . All quo es and e e ences a e a ibu ed
using coded iden i ie s, such as Pa icipan S1 o s uden s,
Pa icipan L2 o lec u e s, Pa icipan M1 o managemen
membe s, and Pa icipan F1 o a m manage s, wi h he objec i e
o p ese ing pa icipan con iden iali y. This me hod p ese es
anonymi y while allowing dis inc iewpoin s om a ious
s akeholde g oups (Naeem e al., 2023).
4.2 Theme 1: Gaps in P ac ical Ag icul u al T aining
Pa icipan s equen ly poin ed ou impo an de iciencies in he
college's cu en p ac ical ag icul u e aining p og am. Despi e he
exis ence o ag icul u e- ela ed p og ams, s uden s ha e s a ed ha
hey a e no exposed o many eal p oduc ion sys ems because he
majo i y o hei p ac ical expe iences ake place in con olled
class oom simula ions a he han eal-wo ld comme cial se ings.
"We lea n heo ies o li es ock and c op p oduc ion, bu we don'
ac ually un a a m cycle om beginning o end," one s uden
cla i ied (S3).
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Lec u e s ag eed, poin ing ou ha assessmen exe cises equen ly
ocus on disc e e p ac ical assignmen s a he han exposing
s uden s o he en i e ope a ional p ocess o a business.
"Assessmen ocuses on p ac ical asks, ins ead o unde s anding
business ope a ions o en e p ise managemen ," acco ding o a
lec u e (L1). T ue wo k eadiness, acco ding o bo h lec u e s and
s uden s, necessi a es egula , p ac ical in ol emen a he han
spo adic demons a ions.
The e o e, he lack o an ope a ional p oduc ion uni a he
D iepoo a m has led o a decline in g adua e ag icul u al
en ep eneu ship, a lack o exposu e o en e p ise managemen , and
a decline in s uden con idence. The esul s demons a e a gla ing
lack o skills applica ion ha hinde s he ans e om academic
s udy o he es ablishmen o wo hwhile businesses and p ac ical
in ol emen in ag ibusiness.
4.3 Theme 2: Recogni ion o D iepoo Fa m as a
S a egic Resou ce
The e was an o e whelming ag eemen among pa icipan g oups
ha he D iepoo a m is an impo an bu unde used ins i u ional
esou ce. The loca ion was consis en ly cha ac e ised by
pa icipan s as ha ing app op ia e land, a a ou able clima e, and
exis ing s uc u al acili ies sui able o aising poul y bu lacking
he coo dina ed ac i i y needed o suppo en e p ise de elopmen
and eaching. A pe cei ed gap be ween ins i u ional esou ces and
s uden lea ning needs was highligh ed by one s uden who s a ed,
"The a m has po en ial, bu i is no being used in a way ha
bene i s s uden s o he communi y" (S5). Wi h one pa icipan
saying, "We ha e land, we ha e s uden s, we ha e ag icul u al
p og ammes— he missing link is an ac i e p oduc ion model,"
managemen echoed his sen imen (M1).
These iewpoin s we e co obo a ed by obse a ional da a, which
e i ied he exis ence o wa e supply sys ems in need o egula
main enance and poul y housing s uc u es ha need o be
eno a ed. Howe e , no signi ican in as uc u e limi a ions would
hinde he s a o poul y laye p oduc ion. Gi en he
ci cums ances, he esul s indica e ha he a m has he basic
esou ces needed o become a aining-en e p ise hub ha can be
ully used wi h only modes capi al in es men and imp o ed
ope a ional coo dina ion.
4.4 Theme 3: Feasibili y and Ma ke Oppo uni y o
Laye P oduc ion
Laye p oduc ion is economically easible in he D iepoo con ex
because o obus and s eady local demand, acco ding o
pa icipan s wi h ag icul u al and echnical expe ise, such as he
a m manage and lec u e s. They poin ed ou ha a wide and
eliable ma ke base is c ea ed by he daily pu chases o eggs made
by households, uno icial s ee endo s, school eeding p og ams,
and e ail es ablishmen s. "Eggs will always mo e," he a m's
s uden emphasised. People pu chase eggs e en du ing di icul
economic imes‖ (S3), highligh ing he commodi y’s accessibili y
and cul u al accep ance as a daily sou ce o p o ein.
The documen e iew's indings suppo ed hese iewpoin s,
showing ha ecu en a ian in luenza dis up ions ha lowe he
a ailabili y o eggs na ionwide and spo adic supply sho ages in
neighbou ing owns a e ela ed o high anspo a ion expenses o
comme cial supplie s. These ac o s make i possible o locally
p oduced, decen alised eggs o en e he ma ke wi h lowe
logis ical cos s and be e esponsi eness o communi y demand
(Sihlobo, 2023). Taking e e y hing in o accoun , he e idence
sugges s ha laye p oduc ion can se e as a dependable and
compe i i e e enue s eam o he college. Because o he
a ou able ma ke condi ions, he ins i u ion is well-posi ioned o
s eng hen and in eg a e wi h he egional poul y alue chain.
4.5 Theme 4: S ong S uden In e es in En e p ise
De elopmen
S uden s' in ense in e es in pu suing coope a i e and sel -
employmen ag ibusiness endea ou s eme ged as a majo heme in
he da a. All en s uden pa icipan s s a ed ha hey wan ed o s a
hei own a ms, especially in he poul y indus y, bu hey said
hey did no ha e he o ganised suppo needed o go om
concep ual in e es o ope a ional eadiness (Kanak e al., 2024).
"We would like o a m," one s uden cla i ied. We lack knowledge
abou whe e o sell ou p oduc s, how o aise capi al, and how o
ini ia e he p ocess. Ou wo y is ha he powe s- ha -may
deescala e he ac i i ies in he a m because o pe cei ed lack o
impac " (S2), unde sco ing he lack o access o ma ke linkage
assis ance, unding, and s a -up expe ise.
This wo y was ea i med by lec u e s, who poin ed ou ha
al hough en ep eneu ship is augh in he cu iculum, he p ac ical
applica ion o hese concep s is es ic ed by he lack o a wo king
en e p ise pla o m (Donaldson e al., 2025). One lec u e no ed
(L3), "We each en ep eneu ship, bu i emains abs ac wi hou a
eal en e p ise pla o m." These esul s indica e a lack o alignmen
be ween ins i u ional suppo sys ems and s uden in e es in
en ep eneu ship. ―They also demons a e ha , when di ec ed
h ough a sys ema ic aining–incuba ion pa hway, s uden
mo i a ion is a powe ul asse ha can a ou ably impac
sus ainabili y‖ (F1). The indings highligh he necessi y o an
in eg a ed en e p ise de elopmen model which combines
class oom ins uc ion, eal-wo ld expe ience, and he in oduc ion
o s uden -led ag ibusiness p ojec s (Pliakou a e al., 2020).
4.6 Theme 5: Ins i u ional Willingness and S akeholde
Alignmen
The esul s show ha key s akeholde s a e highly aligned and
ins i u ionally willing o suppo he es ablishmen o a poul y
laye en e p ise a D iepoo a m. The p ojec was clea ly
suppo ed by he college council and managemen , who
emphasised how well i aligned wi h ins i u ional and na ional
amewo ks like he Dis ic De elopmen Model, he Na ional
Skills De elopmen Plan III, and mo e gene al policies pe aining
o ood secu i y and you h en ep eneu ship. This alignmen was
explained by one manage , who s a ed ha ―A p ojec like he one
a hand s eng hens ou ele ance as a college and suppo s
sus ainable li elihoods o ou s uden s‖ (M2), indica ing an
awa eness o how he business can suppo bo h educa ional and
de elopmen al manda es. The ex e nal ag ibusiness expe also
a i med hei willingness o wo k oge he by p o iding echnical
ad iso y se ices, ma ke linkage acili a ion, and assis ance wi h
coope a i e o ma ion. The con e gence o ex e nal s akeholde
coope a ion and ins i u ional commi men indica es a a ou able
enabling en i onmen . By gua an eeing ha bo h in e nal
go e nance s uc u es and ex e nal alue chain pa ne s back he
en e p ise, his eadiness imp o es o e all p ojec easibili y,
lowe s s a egic isk, and aises he possibili y o long- e m
sus ainabili y.
5. Linking Findings o Li e a u e
Acco ding o na ional policy guidelines, Ge Sibande TVET
College is in a a ou able posi ion o hos businesses. The ole o
Copy igh © ISRG Publishe s. All igh s Rese ed.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17696834
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TVET colleges in p omo ing wo k-in eg a ed lea ning and
enhancing connec ions be ween aining and egional economic
con ex s is highligh ed in he Whi e Pape o Pos -School
Educa ion and T aining. Laye poul y a ming p o ides a low-
en y, high-impac pla o m o he indus y and is adap able o
u al and pe i-u ban en i onmen s, making i sui able o young
a me s. Pa icipan s ag eed ha egg p oduc ion p o ides s eady
ma ke demand and p edic able income. Li e a u e demons a es
ha eggs a e a s aple p o ein consumed in Sou h A ican homes,
schools, and e ail es ablishmen s. O he schola s emphasise
poul y as an e ec i e expe ien ial skill acquisi ion me hod
because o epe i i e bu skill- e ining p ocesses like eeding,
accina ion, g ading, and eco dkeeping; he egula i y o
p oduc ion cycles in laye a ming was conside ed ad an ageous
o aining (Lei e al., 2025; Sebola, 2022; Beesaba huni e al.,
2018; Nkukwana e al., 2018; No dhagen & Klemm, 2018).
The s udy also showed ha in o de o s uden s o ansi ion om
heo e ical knowledge o p ac ical compe ence, hey needed
o ganised men o ing and exposu e o a ms. This ein o ces he
idea ha in eg a ing TVET aining in o eal-wo ld p oduc ion
se ings is c ucial o achie e employabili y bene i s. Wi hou his
in eg a ion, TVET s uden s con inue o ecei e academic aining
bu a e unp epa ed, which hinde s hei abili y o en e he sel -
employmen and ag ibusiness ecosys ems. Howe e , he
in es iga ion e ealed issues wi h ini ial capi al in es men , disease
con ol, and eed p ice ola ili y. Li e a u e shows ha eed cos s
accoun o o e 60% o ope a ing expenses in poul y businesses.
Ano he highligh ed phenomenon ela es o he impo ance o
biosecu i y p ocedu es and e e ina y suppo sys ems o
minimising lock losses, pa icula ly in aining se ings whe e
mis akes in animal ca e may be mo e equen (Ayeba e e al.,
2025; Yus ana, 2024; Mesuwini, 2023; and Beesaba huni e al.,
2018).
O e all, esea ch and li e a u e poin ou he iabili y o a laye ed
poul y business a he college, bu i calls o embedded lea ning
sys ems, obus ope a ional go e nance, and o ganised planning.
6. Conclusion o Findings
The ou come o he s udy demons a es ha he D iepoo a m
o e s e y a ou able condi ions o es ablishing a poul y laye
en e p ise. Ins i u ional s a egic p io i ies, ma ke eadiness,
s uden demand, and suppo i e policy amewo ks combine o
p o ide hese a ou able condi ions. Pa icipan da a, documen
e iews, and si e obse a ions p o ide e idence ha in eg a ing a
poul y business in o he college's ag icul u al aining ecosys em
makes sense economically and pedagogically. While ins uc o s
and adminis a o s emphasised he signi icance o bols e ing
Wo k-In eg a ed Lea ning in acco dance wi h he college's
manda e, s uden s oiced a s ong desi e o mo e eal-wo ld,
expe ien ial lea ning oppo uni ies. On a la ge scale, a ian
in luenza- ela ed economic dis up ions, pe sis en egional supply
sho ages, and high consume demand o eggs all con ibu e o a
a ou able ma ke ing en i onmen o eggs p oduced locally.
Despi e his eadiness, he esul s also poin o a eas ha need
ca e ul p epa a ion. Reno a ing chicken houses, pu ing biosecu i y
sys ems in place, acqui ing he igh p oduc ion inpu s, and
c ea ing anspa en go e nance amewo ks o di ec en e p ise
managemen a e all impo an ope a ional asks. S akeholde s
s a ed ha he e mus be s uc u ed alignmen be ween a m
ac i i ies, assessmen s anda ds, and en e p ise de elopmen
ou comes, and cu iculum in eg a ion eme ged as a c i ical
componen . Sus ainabili y ac o s, including eed cos con ol,
en i onmen al adhe ence, and long- e m ma ke linkage ac ics,
we e also ound o be c ucial o gua an eeing he business's
su i al a e ini ial deploymen .
The s udy's o e all conclusion is ha a poul y laye business a
D iepoo a m o e s a calcula ed and p ac ical chance o combine
you h en ep eneu ship, income gene a ion, and skill de elopmen .
The model enables ac i e engagemen in egional ag icul u al
alue chains, coope a i e o ma ion, en e p ise incuba ion, and
expe ien ial lea ning. The ini ia i e can assis in ans o ming
TVET g adua es om p ima ily job seeke s in o compe en job
c ea o s by exposing hem o ag ibusiness managemen and
in ol ing hem in eal p oduc ion cycles. By doing his, he
business suppo s local ood sys ems, aises u al li elihoods, and
makes oca ional educa ion in Mpumalanga mo e ele an and
sus ainable. Thus, he esul s alida e he iabili y, educa ional
wo h, and ins i u ional cong uence o es ablishing he poul y
laye business a Ge Sibande TVET College.
The s udy demons a es ha , as a as ope a ional isks a e
con olled and ins uc ional s a egies p io i ise expe ien ial
lea ning, a poul ylaye business a Ge Sibande TVET College is
bo h s a egically aligned and inancially iable. Wi h he igh
planning, he business has he po en ial o become a lagship
example ha in eg a es ag icul u al en ep eneu ship, skill
de elopmen , and p o incial economic g ow h.
7. Recommenda ions
The implemen a ion plan o he poul y en e p ise is based on h ee
in e ela ed elemen s: s uden capaci y building, ope a ional
sus ainabili y, and ins i u ional design (Wo ld Poul y Founda ion,
2025). The c ea ion o a Poul y En e p ise Cen e o P ac ice a
D iepoo Fa m will o mally designa e he loca ion as a skills
p oduc ion hub, enhancing hands-on lea ning in ag icul u al
p og ams a he ins i u ional le el. To p omo e mul idisciplina y
compe encies in echnical p oduc ion, ag ibusiness managemen ,
and en ep eneu ship, poul y p oduc ion modules will be
inco po a ed in o he cu icula o bo h business s udies and
ag icul u e. S uden s and s a will gain exposu e o he indus y
h ough a s uc u ed men o ship pa ne ship wi h nea by
comme cial poul y a ms, which will imp o e echnical coaching
(Nassa , 2025; Palma udi Mappigau e al., 2020; Nkukwana,
2018).
In i s endea ou o pu sue comme cial in e es s, he college should
acili a e long- e m eed supply con ac s wi h local eed mills,
which will help s abilise inpu cos s om he s andpoin o
ope a ional and inancial sus ainabili y. The ins alla ion o small-
scale au oma ed sys ems, like au oma ic d inke s and egg
collec ion acks, will inc ease p oduc i i y and lowe handling
e o s. Sales ag eemen s wi h nea by hospi als, schools, and
e aile s will u he s eng hen he business's inancial s abili y by
ensu ing s eady o - ake and s eady e enue s eams. The plan
includes comp ehensi e capaci y de elopmen pa hways o
s uden suppo , such as coope a i e de elopmen assis ance,
mic o-g an s o e ol ing unds, and business incuba ion
oppo uni ies whe e g adua es can access s a e locks. To ensu e
ha s uden s ecei e hands-on, o a ing ins uc ion unde he
guidance o a a m echnician and enhance hei echnical
p o iciency and en ep eneu ial eadiness, a model o a me ield
