Disabled farmer soars to great heights
Being disabled did not stand in the way of Mashika Daniel Letebele from the Willows outside Hoedspruit to become a successful farmer.
Letebele has defied all odds when it comes to negative perceptions attached to people living with disabilities. He uses one hand as the other one is disabled. He is not only a farmer but a progressive one at that.
Letebele owns and manages MD Letebele Farming, formerly known as the Willows citrus farm, which was on the brink of collapse after the democratic government transferred most of its farms to traditional authorities who happened to be the custodians of the land.
When other farms ceased to operate and became white elephants with vandalised infrastructure, Letebele had a vision and he saved the 37ha farm from becoming an acacia forest. He applied for permission to use the land for vegetable production as he could not watch it go to ruin.
At the time the citrus orchards had been in a total state of neglect. Although the authority was initially hesitant, he was ultimately granted permission to develop the land literally from scratch. As mobilised resources towards achieving his goal and employed a few workers to assist him in establishing his enterprise. He started planting tomatoes on a 4ha piece of land.
Also read: Small farmers persist despite challenges
“That was what my meagre resources allowed me to do. My plan was to go for a crop that would be on demand for immediate consumption throughout the year. To that end, tomatoes are a viable cash crop,” he said. He said he used a jam tomato variety as it has a long shelf life.
“A cultivar that stays fresh longer is ideal as my customers at the time were hawkers only,” he said. Letebele also supplied over-ripe tomatoes to a processing plant in Modjadjiskloof. From small beginnings, MD Letebele Farming now produces tomatoes throughout the year and its customers are as far as Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique.
The farm has created a considerable number of permanent jobs for people in and around the Willows village. Letebele is now able to irrigate a portion of his farm through driplines. To maintain the good status of the soil, he allows some areas to rest for a period of time before he replants.
Also read: Farmer takes matters into her own hands after being unemployed
During the resting period, his cattle graze in the fields. He is optimistic about the future. He says that he hopes to one day be also known for mango production. He currently has a 3ha mango orchard under micro-jet irrigation.
He says he is gradually embracing the idea of diversifying, as it would allow him to spread the risk in case of a crop failure. He said although his mango production is now on a small-scale, he believes that its expansion is worth considering as green mangoes are in high demand for chutney and atchar processing.
“But for all the plans for a better living to be successful, an integrated intervention strategy is required,” he said. For more information about the farm, contact Letebele on 071 955 6014.
