Anna Phosa is the founder and managing director of Dreamland Piggery & Abattoir, which has become one of the leading pig farming operations in South Africa.
Her journey into agriculture began in 2004 when she started with just four pigs in Soweto, and her business has since expanded to produce between 100 and 300 pigs weekly, making her one of the few black women commercial pig farmers in the country.
She is one the largest suppliers of pigs to Pick n Pay, one of South Africa’s largest supermarket chains.
Her hard work and dedication have earned her several accolades, including the Young Farmer Award in 2006 and the Standard Bank Top Woman in Agriculture Award in 2016.
She has also been a speaker at prestigious forums such as the World Economic Forum, Harvard University, MIT, and the African Union.
This is her profile as told by WOA:
Anna Phosa’s Net Worth
Anna Phosa is considered one of the wealthiest pig farmers in Africa.
Her business, Dreamland Piggery & Abattoir, has grown exponentially, and she has secured lucrative contracts, such as the one with Pick n Pay worth R25 million over five years.
Her farm spans 350 hectares and houses thousands of pigs.
In addition to pig farming, her business has grown to include feed production to support her livestock, further diversifying her agricultural enterprise.
Dreamland Piggery employs around 40 permanent staff and additional seasonal workers, contributing to local employment and economic development.
Anna Phosa’s Education qualifications
Despite her entrepreneurial success, Anna Phosa did not pursue higher education after high school due to financial constraints.
However, her determination, business acumen, and hands-on experience in farming have been key to her success as an agripreneur, compensating for her lack of formal education.
Anna Phosa’s Success Journey
Anna Phosa was born in 1988, in Free State, South Africa in a rural village called Boukenhouthoek.
Her father passed away when she was young, leaving her mother to raise seven children on her own.
From a young age, Anna displayed business acumen by selling goods and doing odd jobs while still in high school.
After completing high school, she worked as a cashier at Shoprite to support her family. At 21, she got married and partnered with her husband to venture into small-scale farming, growing vegetables and rearing chickens to supplement their income.
This experience sparked her interest in agriculture.
Her journey into pig farming began unexpectedly. In 2004, she attended a farmers’ networking event in Zuurbekom, where she met Mr. Mohlabi, an elderly pig farmer whose passion for pig farming inspired Anna to explore this field.
Consequently, she invested her savings of 1,000 Rand (approximately $100) and purchased four pigs.
Despite having no prior experience in pig farming, she committed herself to learning the intricacies of the industry.
Soon, she had a small pig farm, which she named Dreamland Piggery & Abattoir.
As her business grew, she relocated from Soweto to a larger plot of land in De Deur, Johannesburg, where she gradually expanded her operations.
In 2005, Anna secured her first contract with Vereeniging Meat Packers, which provided the initial cash flow for her expanding business.
By 2006, she won the Young Farmer Award, recognizing her exceptional contributions to agriculture.
Her breakthrough came in 2008 when she contracted with Pick n Pay, one of SA’s, largest supermarket chains, to supply 10 pigs per week.
By 2016, she was the company’s largest pig supplier, delivering 300-350 pigs weekly. This contract was worth R25 million over five years.
With the success of her contracts, Anna was able to raise capital from USAID and ABSA to purchase a 350-hectare farm.
Today, Dreamland Piggery houses over 5,000 pigs, employs about 30 permanent staff members, and has 10 seasonal workers.
As a testament to her achievements, she is a highly sought-after speaker at prestigious forums like the World Economic Forum, Harvard University, MIT, and the African Union.
Anna Phosa’s Family
Anna Phosa is married to Sipho Phosa, a businessman from Soweto. They have been together since Anna was 21 years old.
