Petrus “Happy” Letsitsa is a man true to his name. Born on 25 December, his name is a fitting reflection of his warm and jovial nature. But in Welkom, Free State, if you ask for him by his first name, chances are people won’t know who you are talking about. He shares his farming journey on our Farmer Mentor podcast series on Farmer’s Inside Track.
Petrus “Happy” Letsitsa is a commercial farmer running a mixed farming operation of crops and livestock. However, he was not always a farmer.
In 2015, he was a financial consultant for one of South Africa’s top five banks, helping commercial and upcoming black farmers secure loans. “To be honest, I didn’t like farming. I saw it as dirty work,” he recalls.
That perspective changed one day when he visited a client who was a commercial farmer. “Something shifted in me. and a love for farming was developed.”
In 2017, he took his first steps into agriculture, starting with just two cows. Fast forward to today, and Letsitsa’s farm has grown tremendously. He now farms 800 hectares of land, producing maize meal, sunflower, and groundnuts while also raising livestock. His goal is to expand to 1 000 hectares.
“I’m almost there,” he says confidently. “I sometimes differ with people who think you need at least 1 000 hectares to be considered fully commercial. I disagree because you can be a commercial farmer with less.”
Building a successful mixed farming business
One of Letsitsa’s proudest achievements has been growing his grain production from 250 tonnes to over 1 000 tonnes in just six years. By 2023, he had increased that output to 1 500 tonnes annually. “We’re doing very well and we’re hoping to reach 2 000 tonnes soon.”
When asked what has fueled this rapid growth, he is quick to point out the importance of human resources.
“Farming is a business, and our employees are key to our success. If they’re not hands-on, we can’t grow. I can’t manage 800 hectares alone. Planning and patience are also crucial.
“The fourth factor is the most important – God. The highest manager of my farm is God. In fact, I’m an employee of God. My boss is up there,” he says, laughing.
A significant part of his farming success lies in his attention to soil management. Letsitsa is a firm believer in soil sampling, and while scientists recommend testing every two years, he takes a different approach.
“They say that because they’re lazy,” he jokes. “I do soil sampling every year. I rotate my crops, so my soil won’t be the same as the previous year. I want to understand the changes happening to my land.”
Despite his success, Letsitsa has made his share of mistakes. One of his biggest, he recalls, was when he rushed to plant sunflower after purchasing a tractor. “But I didn’t do my planning, soil sampling, or calibrations. I lost out on millions.”
Now, with lessons learned and his eyes set on further growth, Letsitsa is focused on expanding his agricultural enterprise even further.
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