Father's footsteps: #SoilSista shares inspiring post-loss journey

After the loss of her father in 2021, Kgotella Roda faced numerous challenges. Now a #SoilSista, she shares her journey of empowerment, resilience, and learning, as she continues her father’s legacy with grace.

Growing up in Lichtenberg, North West, Kgotella Roda was the apple of her father’s eye. His dream for his beloved daughter was for her to pursue a career beyond farming.

“My dad always told me to go study and find a career that would pay me. There is no money [in farming],” this #SoilSista explains.

Roda initially pursued a career in fashion, but life has a way of leading us back to our roots. In 2015, Roda was introduced to agro-processing, and she instantly fell in love with the potential it offered – from primary agriculture to secondary products.

“I think I fell in love the first time I went into that [processing] plant. We went to North West University’s Potchefstroom campus and they were showing how they process maize into corn flakes and maize meal,” she recalls.

Convincing her father about the business opportunities in farming wasn’t a simple task. “It took a year to actually convince him because I had to bring pictures and videos to show him what we can do,” she says.

Navigating grief

While the world grappled with the Covid-19 pandemic, it also brought upheaval to Roda’s life, as the cornerstone of her family passed away from the virus in January 2021.

“Dad was the main leader and we never had big roles [to play in the family]. When he departed, it was difficult for us to work together. We fought a lot. I had to be the one with more patience,” she explains.

This was a trying time; her father’s death was unexpected, and new responsibilities weighed heavily on the rest of the family. There was a sense of disconnection, Roda battled depression, and she had to muster great strength. “My mom pulled us together,” she says.

Corteva Agriscience programme

Depression arrived uninvited, but Roda was determined to help herself, especially with the support of her family. She attended various seminars and workshops, and when the opportunity to join the #SoilSistas programme arose, she seized it.

Roda earned a place in the 2023 Corteva Agriscience Women Agripreneur Programme, offered by GIBS Entrepreneurship Academy.

“The Corteva programme ignited the strength in me that I didn’t have to carry on with all the plans. I started meeting women and realised there was a programme that could empower us. A lot is being done to grow in the industry,” she says.