Lucy Mgamone of Mohlakeng may be a small time farmer but there are not many people like her who choose to stand up for the community; especially those who are poverty-stricken.
Having left her job at a factory in 2005, Lucy, 65, said she had a passion to uplift community members who needed food on the table.
“Initially, I did not know where to start as I had also just left my job,” Lucy said.
She said the idea of farming came to her when she found a piece of land near AB Phokombe Senior Secondary School (Mohlakeng).
“I saw that it had not been used for many years, therefore, I proposed the idea to the municipality and they immediately issued me with the all the documents that I needed.”
She said in the past 13 years, she has not only created employment in the community, but with the variety of vegetables she farms, she also promotes a healthy lifestyle. She produces spinach, beetroot, carrot, cabbage and spring onions.
However, she said running the farm also came with its challenges, “Especially crime. Sometimes when I get here in the morning I’m shocked to find some of my crops cut and stolen.”
Lucy said the other issue she has with her farm is people who dump their rubbish next to her vegetables – she feels people are disrespecting her good deeds.
“There is no one who guards this place, it is all in the open, I need a fence,” she said.
She said despite all these challenges, she is happy that the eight people she has employed can put food on the table for their families.
“The main purpose in this community is to uplift those who are needy, and so far, I believe I have made a big difference. I will continue doing so, and show others that this is what we, the people, can do to alleviate poverty,” Lucy added.
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