Drawn by the call of the land, Bridget Motswasele exchanged her city lifestyle and corporate duties for the grit and gratification of farming. This bold decision has since not only reshaped her own life but also started to yield valuable impacts on her community and the broader agricultural sector.
Just a few years ago, Motswasele embarked on her farming journey amid the Covid-19 lockdown. Now, she has not only emerged as a beacon of positive change in her community but also earned a spot in the 2023 Corteva Agriscience Women Agripreneur programme.
As a #SoilSista, her journey is a testament to her remarkable progress in the agricultural sector. Only the finest women farmers are selected for the mixed-format developmental course offered by GIBS Entrepreneurship Development Academy.
Although the land she initially purchased was earmarked for livestock, the venture didn’t progress as anticipated.
A wake-up call
Witnessing the struggle people faced during the global pandemic and the subsequent threat to food security, Motswasele opted to transition from city life in communications to farming in Kalabasfontein, Gauteng, where her farm is located.
“As information unfolded during Covid-19, fear around food scarcity was palpable,” she tells Food For Mzansi. “This concern prompted my husband and I to consider farming since our land had been idle since 2016.”
She purchased seeds from a local store and applied for a permit to travel during the stringent lockdown.
“With no prior experience, we turned to YouTube for guidance and began to plant. We came daily to water the seeds and experienced immense joy upon seeing the first sprouts,” she recalls.
A clear course of action
Observing the sprouts was an eye-opener for Motswasele, revealing that the world of farming was ripe with potential. Far from sitting back, she inspired many with her willingness to learn, unlearn, and relearn. The #SoilSistas programme came at an opportune moment.
“The programme is outstanding,” she says. “Having been self-employed for over 15 years, I’ve never participated in anything quite like this.”
An experience like no other
Over the years, Motswasele says she pursued various avenues for personal development in her former career in marketing, communications and media, but none have influenced her as profoundly as the Corteva programme. Not a day goes by that she doesn’t learn something new.
“Farming teaches you that record-keeping is vital. You need to understand what to do and when. This programme has been instrumental in helping me plan and monitor my activities,” she explains.
But the benefits don’t stop there. Building relationships, particularly with women who share similar yet diverse perspectives, has been a remarkable bonus, she notes.
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