During his primary school years, Koketso Kgaje from Mathopestad in North West developed an interest in farming. He would do experiments in his home backyard by digging holes and placing dry goods in it, with encouraging results. In high school, he realised that farming was his true calling and without hesitation decided to pursue his passion.
In 2019 when he was in matric, Kgaje saved his pocket money and at the end of the year had amassed R3 000. He used his savings to begin his farming journey with poultry and then transitioned to crop farming the following year.
He started with 500 chicks. He explains that it was challenging to maintain a steady cash flow due to the expenses of feeding the chicks. However, his cousin Ofentse Moloko suggested that he incorporate crop farming as an additional source of income.
“In 2020, I ventured into poultry farming and also began cultivating a vegetable garden. To begin, I purchased 2 000 cabbage seedlings, 1 000 lettuce seedlings, and 600 spinach seedlings.”
He has registered his business under the name Bamalatswe Green Farm.
Market availability
Kgaje began by connecting with neighbours and supplying local shops, gradually expanding to include larger markets such as the Joburg Market, Magaliesburg Spar, and numerous street vendors.
According to him, he finds vegetable farming to be less stressful compared to poultry farming.
“Farming with living organisms requires complete concentration and a solid understanding of theoretical concepts.
“Taking care of chicks can be challenging if you are not familiar with the necessary precautions. Diseases, temperature fluctuations, and improper feeding can quickly lead to the loss of your chicks.”
He feels that losing all of your commodities in farming might be discouraging and that having a plan B is absolutely a must.
“When it comes to crops, it is important to observe which plants thrive well and are easy to maintain. By focusing on these plants, you can learn how to cultivate them successfully. Eventually, you can explore ways to cultivate other plants effectively as well,” he explains.
Keeping cultivation simple
Kgaje cultivates a small backyard farm on less than a hectare of land. Spinach and cabbage are both vegetables that are known for their ease of cultivation, he says. Moreover, they are not only a staple food in Mzansi and therefore, you won’t run out of ideas on who to sell your products to.
He recommends that farmers cultivate crops that are in high demand within their specific geographical regions. He further notes that being in the villages, he has a good understanding of the typical consumption and affordability of most people.
If he were to farm in urban areas, he adds, he would need to consider crops such as baby marrows, chicory, celery, brinjal, okra and other fancy crops.
‘Unity is power’
Kgaje says he lacks some of the necessary resources for his business. However, he can temporarily overcome this challenge by seeking assistance from fellow farmers, who kindly lend him machinery and a tractor. Just like when he requires seedlings, he reaches out and seeks assistance.
“One valuable lesson I have gained from my experience in farming is the recognition that no one possesses all the necessary resources or possesses complete knowledge. I am receptive to opportunities for learning and welcome constructive feedback along my journey.”
He emphasises that without the influence of other farmers who sparked his love for farming, he wouldn’t have achieved where he is now. Furthermore, he says that watching food develop in front of you and seeing a vacant lot which the following week is lush and colourful, is what inspires him.
Bigger and better things to come
“Life in one place is not worth living,” he shares. “I envision a future that outshines my current circumstances and site. I am interested in pursuing a career in farming, with a successful focus on crop farming and eventually expanding into raising animals, agro-processing, and exporting.”
Kgaje is all about taking things one step at a time. He expresses gratitude for supermarkets ordering from small-scale farmers, which indicates significant growth potential for future farmers, particularly black farmers who are on the brink of growing.
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