Family farm look forward to feeding more families in the community
Family farm in Chebeng, Moletjie has managed to create employment for eight people and say that they look forward to feeding even more families in the future.
POLOKWANE – Started and run by Elias Molepo and his two sons in 2014, Noah and Moses, Thinthas Fresh Vegetables is on a mission to alleviate poverty within their community and Limpopo at large.
“It saddens me to see elders not being able to feed and look after their young ones and as someone who has been privileged to gain access to resources that one needs to lead a successful and positive life, I had to think of ways to help better the lives of people in my community.
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“The vegetable farm started small which has gone from strength to strength over the years, so much that we managed to expand the piece of land into 10 hectares, so we can create more employment opportunities for residents in our community, who only know how to use their hands with no qualifications.
We look forward to hiring more and feeding more families,” explained Molepo.
Although they still lack in terms of resources to properly run a farming business, the group of self taught farmers have become entrepreneurs, as they now supply vegetables such as spinach, beetroot, carrots and cabbage to well known food retailers, street vendors, local spaza shops as well as sell from home.
“As small entrepreneurs we want to appeal to our government and business owners to assist us with a tractor and water, in order to carry out our vision and mission as water continues to be a challenge for us, even with the rain we still struggle. The rain causes problems, as after the heavy rains, we usually get a lot of weeds.
“We would also appreciate to be provided with sufficient knowledge and skills about the farming industry, formally so that we can be able to run the farms as well other small businesses and enterprises we wish to venture into,” he added.
Molepo says that communities in rural areas need to look around them, within their immediate environments for ways to better their lives.
“Most families from rural areas have got pieces of land which they can utilise to farm, not only to feed themselves but also help create employment for residents in their community,” he concluded.
