Mahlatse (20) feeds the nation with her green peppers
LIMPOPO: Five years later, and a few lucky breaks along the way, Mahlatse now leases a 8-ha farm and produces green peppers for four national food wholesalers.
Mahlatse Matlakana is a 20-year-old young woman with a passion for green pepper farming.
She describes her love for farming as a ‘bittersweet love story’.
I decided to take a gap year and farm green peppers for fun
At the age of 15, Mahlatse began working in the neighbouring farms of Arrie Village in the Blouberg municipality during school holidays to support her unemployed mother and two younger siblings.
Five years later, and a few lucky breaks along the way, Mahlatse now leases a8-hectare farm and produces green peppers for four national food wholesalers.
When Mahlatse completed her Matric in 2016, she was conflicted between following her passion for farming and applying for a Law Degree.
“Applying for a Law Degree seemed like the right thing to do, so I did and I was accepted. However, I decided to take a gap year and farm green peppers for fun,” said Mahlatse.
The ‘fun’ resulted into a 1-hectare farm filled with ripe green peppers – there was no going back! She bought more seeds from the income she accumulated and extended her farm by one more hectare.
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“I then decided to put my Law Degree on hold to pursue farming full time. I registered my company and with the support of some Good Samaritans in my community, I managed to lease a bigger plot at a cheaper rate, and they also allowed me to use their farming equipment at no cost at all,” said Mahlatse.
Mahlatse now has a 8-hectare green pepper farm and employs four people from her community.
As word spread about the dynamic young farmer, big brands started knocking on her door to offer assistance.
Construction engineering company Basil Read donated an irrigation system and a water pump – a donation that has assistant Mahlatse to keep her farm nurtured.
She now harvests weekly and distributes her green peppers in the community and to wholesalers such as Boxer, Goseame Wholesalers in Polokwane, Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market, as well as a Fresh Produce Market in Musina.
Mahlatse will form part of the next group of young entrepreneurs who will receive mentorship through the De Beers Zimele incubation programme.
Through the programme, Mahlatse will receive skills development training aligned to the farming industry, financial training and mentorship, and personal development skills as a businesswoman.
“I am very confident about the future and I hope one day I’ll be able to open a training centre for the youth in my community and teach them about farming,” said Mahlatse.
