29-04-2025
How Gift Mankga went from software engineer to successful rabbit farmer
Rabbits are known for their calm and peaceful nature, soft fur, and playful antics.
These gentle qualities make them delightful pets and charming companions, especially for children.
For 28-year-old Gift Mankga from Lebowakgomo outside Polokwane, Limpopo, these furry creatures have become more than just pets—they're the foundation of his profitable business venture.
Mankga has become a well-respected rabbit farmer in his community.
His passion for animals led him to breed rabbits and sell both their meat and urine to local and international markets. The rabbit urine, which costs R30 per liter, is highly sought after for its medicinal properties and use as fertiliser, while the rabbits themselves sell for R200 each.
"It takes about 3 months for a rabbit to grow from being a kitten to a size where it is ready to breed or be consumed. They can breed more than two times a year," Mankga explains.
His customer base is diverse.
Read more | Limpopo man builds thriving poultry empire - 'Prioritise quality over quantity'
"My clients include local people, butcheries who buy meat, and both local and international product farmers demanding urine to fertilize their crops."
Despite not having formal agricultural qualifications, Mankga has built a successful farming operation. He obtained a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the University of Limpopo in 2018 and worked in India as a Software Engineer before starting his rabbit farm in 2020.
To grow his business, he further obtained a degree in Human Resources and Business Management through distance learning.
During a visit to his 15-hectare farm, Mankga told Drum magazine that rabbit farming for both meat and urine is a promising and growing lucrative business that isn't expensive to run.
Mankga grows his rabbits by feeding them fruits, vegetables, and pellets.
"They eat green leaves of both vegetables and fruit trees, maize, carrots, cabbage, lettuce, bread, porridge, weeds, samp, Lucerne grass, and rabbit pellets," he says.
One of the benefits of rabbit farming is its accessibility: "You can keep them in a small space inside the house, and they will breed and produce high-quality urine. Their waste is also good for the garden as fertiliser."
Rabbit urine offers several advantages as a natural fertiliser:
Rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—essential nutrients for plant growth
Cost-effective alternative to chemical fertilisers
Enhances soil fertility and improves soil structure
Promotes the growth of beneficial microorganisms
Sustainable and eco-friendly option
Read more | At 80, Johannes Mamogale's 20-year vegetable garden still thrives
Rabbit farming, also known as cuniculture, offers numerous benefits:
High reproduction rate: Female rabbits can have up to 12 babies per litter and multiple litters per year
Low startup costs compared to other livestock farming
Cost-effective feeding: Rabbits are herbivores that thrive on easily accessible vegetation
Rabbit meat is a rich source of protein, low in fat, and packed with vitamins and minerals
Growing market demand both locally and internationally
Environmentally friendly: Rabbits produce less waste and require fewer resources than other livestock
Despite his success, Mankga faces several challenges:
High costs of medication and veterinary care
Need for quick identification and treatment when rabbits get sick
Maintaining a conducive and warm environment for the rabbits
Water shortages and loadshedding
Limited veterinary support
Difficulty accessing land and obtaining financing
Fluctuating feed prices
Balancing his professional job with farm operations
Currently breeding 1,000 rabbits per cycle, Mankga dreams of expanding his business to supply 1,000 rabbits weekly to abattoirs. His goal is to create job opportunities for young graduates in his community to handle the day-to-day operations of his rabbit farming business.
"Rabbit farming brings a smile to my face and my wife Boipelo Makgata's face. Their behavior is therapeutic," he says.
His advice to unemployed young people: "Do research, identify a gap in the market, and take a risk. It is all about the willingness to take a risk and the opportunity the market presents.
