Meet #SoilSista Portia Moshoeu whose journey from inherited land with no utilities to broiler farming and agro-processing epitomises grit, determination, and a relentless passion for agriculture.
Portia Moshoeu embodies the spirit of a modern-day farming pioneer, navigating the rugged terrain of agriculture armed with little more than a fierce determination and an unquenchable passion for the land.
Her journey began not in grandeur, but in the quiet embrace of her grandparents’ inherited land – a patch of soil in Wallmansthal, Pretoria West in Gauteng.
Her path was filled with hurdles, uncertainties, and a sheer thirst to learn and adapt. The land she inherited lacked the basic utilities – no electricity, no running water. Yet, her love for the craft was unyielding.
Constant struggles
“I’ve always loved to farm, but I didn’t know how. Where to farm and where to start,” Moshoeu shares, her voice carrying the weight of a dreamer’s struggle. “It just happened that we were given back our grandparents’ land, and that’s when I started off.”
She started small, testing the soil with spinach, not just to grow crops but to understand the land’s temperament. However, the soil wasn’t as welcoming as her aspirations. Challenges mounted – unsuitable soil quality, financial constraints, the constant struggle to secure funding, and the absence of essential resources like electricity and water.
“It’s been three years in, and even today I’m still testing my soil,” she admits, a testament to her ongoing commitment to understanding her farming canvas.
Constantly learning and changing
From spinach, she ventured into poultry, specifically broilers, utilising solar systems and boreholes to overcome the limitations imposed by the land. Her journey exemplified resilience, constantly pivoting, diversifying, and adapting – 2 000 broilers now grace her farm, supplying the local market, a feat fuelling her dream and paying her workers.
But the turning point in Moshoeu’s saga came with the Corteva Agriscience Women Agripreneur Programme. It was a lifeline, a network of fellow dreamers facing similar trials and tribulations. It opened doors to new possibilities, including agro-processing, a world she hadn’t dared to tread before.
“Ever since I joined the programme, it’s impacted my life positively,” she beams, speaking of newfound ventures into agro-processing, including cultivating her own chilli crops. This is a testament to her adaptability and newfound confidence.
Looking ahead, Moshoeu’s dreams soar higher than her current farm’s boundaries. She envisions commercialising her produce, diving deeper into agro-processing, and expanding her presence in retail stores.
Her advice to aspiring agripreneurs? Simple yet profound – just start.
Moshoeu’s journey isn’t glossy; it’s raw, filled with the grit and determination that define the heart of farming. Her story isn’t just about agriculture; it’s a testament to the resilience and passion that fuel dreams, no matter how daunting the terrain. She stands tall as a beacon for those who dare to cultivate their own dreams, brick by brick, crop by crop.
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