Tsholofelo Mokwele from Ekangala, Mpumalanga, may have had other dreams growing up, but farming was always calling her, quietly waiting in the background.
Eventually, she was drawn away from her job in engineering. Working as a lab technician didn’t feel right for her, and she soon realised that her true passion was growing food and raising animals.
After leaving her job, she launched her farming business, TCM Squared Farming Projects, entirely self-funded.
Mokwele farms on a 470-hectare property in Rietfontein 470 JR Ekandustria, though she has used just two hectares since 2020.
“I started farming because working for someone else didn’t fulfil me. I wanted to be my own boss, just like my late grandfather,” she explains.
Her grandfather, a commercial farmer, passed away, leaving the land unused for nearly a decade before Mokwele decided to bring it back to life.
“But I didn’t have the capital to start, so I sold my Mini Cooper,” she says.
Mokwele grows spinach, green peppers, tomatoes, spring onions, and red cabbage under shade nets. She also raises 10 goats, 20 mixed-breed cattle, and about 300 chickens.
She has secured strong markets with local Spar, Roots, and Fresh Produce outlets. “I’ve employed two permanent workers and eight seasonal workers,” she adds, proud of how far her farm has come.
Farming by the book
Mokwele shares with Food for Mzansi that she wanted to build on and add to what she learned from her grandfather, so she enrolled at Buhle Farmers Academy, where she earned a certificate in animal production.
She also completed several courses, including poultry farming, farm management, and vegetable production. Additionally, she took courses offered by the department of agriculture, rural development, land and environmental affairs, covering financial management, waste management, and piggery production.
“I farm by the book, but I add a touch of family wisdom to keep things running smoothly.”
Tsholofelo Mokwele
Despite facing challenges, Mokwele is proud of her progress, tackling issues one step at a time. “In 2023, I lost 20 goats to stock theft. I’ve since installed cameras, though it has increased my farming costs.”
She adds that electricity is another challenge for the farm. Even with some solar power, water distribution remains a problem, limiting her ability to expand.
“Eskom is asking for R50 000 to restore power, and with the farm’s limited income, especially with workers needing to be paid, it’s a tough situation.”
Mokwele mentions that she lives about 15 minutes away from the abattoir, which makes running her business much easier.
“We sell live chickens, as well as slaughter, clean, and package them. Our products are delivered within 48 hours after slaughter, and my clients place their orders before slaughter days.”
When it comes to cattle, she buys and feeds them, and once they reach the right weight and age, she sells them at auctions. “I keep the females for breeding,” she adds.
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Taking her farming business forward
Mokwele outlines the goals of TCM Squared Farming Projects, which include growing into a successful commercial farming business with secured markets, contributing to local economic development, and engaging in forward business integration to add value to their produce while optimising operations.
She also shares her business goals to build a packhouse and expand production by venturing into grain farming and increasing cattle numbers.
“My business uses innovative techniques, technologies, and products that significantly enhance the quality of our processed food,” Mokwele proudly states.
Additionally, she uses various technologies to manage her farm. Google apps help her calculate profit and loss, while GPS apps measure the farm and cultivated plots.
“I use the Plantix app to detect diseases and pests in crops, and I make sure to plant hybrid seeds because they are more resistant to drought and diseases,” Mokwele adds.
However, she’s not done learning. She seeks to adopt new technologies that facilitate the production and marketing of products on large and small scales and diversify and expand the farm business.
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