Selinah Ntjana had a rocky start in farming. However, even after facing loss and setbacks, she did not give up but empowered herself and became a true powerhouse – juggling life as a goat farmer, author, entrepreneur, wife, and proud mom of five.
Ntjana, from Musina in Limpopo, comes from a small family of four. After kicking off her education at Rixile Primary and Musina High School, she chased her dreams further in Tzaneen and Polokwane. But her journey would not end there.
She discovered a love for goat farming and a desire to learn more about these hardy animals and share it with others.
“My journey into goat farming began in 2011, driven by my passion for the field,” Ntjana says.
It all started when she met her husband, Phuti, a farmer from the village of Morale under the Blouberg Municipality, who introduced her to farming. However, by 2014, due to high goat mortality rates, Ntjana’s husband had to pause his farming venture, marking a challenging chapter in their farming aspirations.
“I decided to take matters into my own hands by conducting extensive research and completing Boer goat courses to gain certification in profitable farming,” Ntjana explains.
From meat to skincare and books
In 2021, they restarted their goat farming venture. Ntjana farms Boer goats and outsources milk from the Saanen breed for her goat milk skincare business.
“We’re breeding the Boer goat, which is good for meat. We’re selling it for meat. We don’t have the Saanen goat, which is a goat breed sold for milk,” she says.
Ntjana expanded her skills by learning how to produce goat milk skincare products, writing books for children and beginner farmers, and sharing her knowledge and passion for farming.
Selinah the goat
“Selinah the goat” is a delightful children’s storybook that follows the adventures of a curious and mischievous goat named Selinah. Written by Ntjana, the book takes young readers into the world of Selinah the goat as she embarks on her journey, making new friends, learning from other goat breeds, and getting into playful antics.
The storybook is beautifully illustrated with colourful and engaging images that capture children’s imaginations and bring the characters to life. Ntjana shares that through Selinah’s adventures, young readers learn valuable lessons about friendship, curiosity, and the importance of staying true to oneself.
Related stories
- Ximba turns hardships into goat milk goodness
- Innovative goat breeding and training propel Mudau to the top
- Faith and farming: The power of prayer fuels Dean’s success
“Selinah the goat” is much more than a children’s storybook; it’s a tale from a journey of grief, healing, and a deep bond with nature. Inspired by her own experience of loss, the story emerges from how spending time with her beloved goats became a source of comfort and strength.
“This book is something very deep. I connect with Selinah the goat so much,” she admits. “The main thing was, after 2022, I lost my mom and it was difficult for me as a mother. I wanted to be strong for my own children.”
Spending time with goats became a source of healing for her as she processed her grief. “Goats are very intelligent. It was painful, I needed comfort, and the only thing that could heal me was goats.”
Although the idea for the book came naturally, the publishing journey was not without its challenges. “It was not an easy road, and I was using my own funds,” she says.
Apart from “Selina the goat”, Ntjana has also successfully published two other books. A customised colouring book titled ‘A fun farm activity’ as well as a guide to goat farming for beginners titled ‘My love for the goat’ .
“The journey was tough. Things don’t always go our way, but we learn from our mistakes,” Ntjana reflects.
Empowering the youth
She has also launched training and educational programmes for goat farming. Ntjana shares her ambitious plans to expand her business, focusing on youth empowerment and job creation.
“My future plan is to see our business grow big, employing a lot of youth, especially youth. I’ll stick to youth because we have a high unemployment rate. That is why even now we are running these programmes of going out there to the schools, going to the children, teaching them how to make lotions. I don’t want to keep the information to myself only,” she revealed.
Ntjana also plans to expand her farm and facilities, providing more employment opportunities and inviting kids to learn about the entire production process, from goat farming to product creation. Her goal is to equip the next generation with practical skills and foster innovation.
READ NEXT: Faith and farming: The power of prayer fuels Dean’s success
Get Stories of Change: Inspirational stories from the people that feed Mzansi.
