By the age of 11, Onthatile Lesolang was already an entrepreneur at heart, selling vegetables at a nearby market in Letlhabile Village, North West. Now, at 16 years old, she farms on half a hectare of land and dreams of acquiring more land to explore large-scale organic farming.
The young founder of Lesolang Farm in Madidi Village has always been around crops and livestock. Her late grandparents, Monche and Johanna Lesolang, groomed their granddaughter.
“I started at 11 selling tomatoes, spinach, and peppers from my grandparents’ garden to villagers and people driving around.”
She realised then that cultivating food wasn’t just about feeding your family but could also generate income.
“I am grateful to have started young. Now I see there is so much to explore beyond just growing food, like agro-processing, tech farming, and organic farming,” she says.
Tested at a young age
Lesolang Farm grows spinach, tomatoes, and peppers. Everything she does is eco-friendly with a strong commitment to organic farming, she tells Food For Mzansi.
“I make my own fertiliser with food scraps and use homemade pesticides to fight diseases.”
They also have Brahman cattle and mixed Afrikaner breeds, Lesolang says. “My family owns around 80 head of cattle, and I have my share.
“The toughest tests came early on,” she says with a hint of pride. “Learning how to handle and slaughter a cow, then having to herd all the cows by myself over a long distance – that was no joke.”
She remembers walking through the fields and hills, crossing rivers, and seeing the beautiful landscapes, walking on grass, seeing how the world is naturally beautiful and rich to feed her livestock. This has always excited her.
Accessing markets and financial assistance
Lesolang’s journey into entrepreneurship at such a young age is undoubtedly inspiring but it also presents its own set of challenges, particularly in accessing markets.
So, she focuses on primary schools, supplying vegetables to their feeding schemes. Villagers also support the young farmer.
“What I love most about being a farmer is seeing the smile on a customer’s face while being able to positively impact people’s lives.”
Also, her age is a barrier when seeking financial assistance.
“It saddens me to see that I can’t be recognised because of my age. Hopefully, with time, I will get where I want to be.”
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What about school?
Balancing running a farming business and school requires a lot of commitment. When Lesolang is busy with schoolwork and exams, her family helps out on the farm. Even during school times, they assist with watering and other farming maintenance.
“I intend to gather money for studying through farming and proceed to study while taking care of the farm.”
She plans on becoming a dietitian and believes there is a correlation between medicine, science, and food.
“I would love to see our citizens being healthier and helped by me. Some people have the land and farming knowledge, yet they still go to bed hungry every night. I believe there is a lack of awareness there.”
More than a farmer
Lesolang views herself as a food activist and envisions a future where everyone has access to nutritious food without compromising their financial well-being.
“I engage with my community by selling them vegetables at a very low, reasonable price since vegetables outside are expensive, and others cannot afford them.”
Sometimes, she also donates vegetables to older people and struggling families.
Lesolang, like the crops she cultivates, is constantly growing. While the exact shape of her future farm remains a mystery waiting to unfold, her ambition is clear.
“Every season brings new lessons. My dream is to get more land and resources to explore the world of organic farming and its potential to promote well-being.”
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