Mahlatse Matlakana is a 20-year-old young woman from Limpopo, who gave up a Law Degree to follow her passion and is inspiring all South Africans with her green pepper farming story!
Limpopo, South Africa – Mahlatse Matlakana’s passion for farming started when she was 15 years old. She had started a part-time job on a farm in Blouberg, Limpopo to support her family but realised that she truly loved farming.
She worked on the farm every school holiday, and when it came time to look at university, she was conflicted about studying Law or becoming a farmer. She applied to her local university and was accepted to do a Law Degree.
“Applying for a Law Degree seemed like the right thing to do, so I did and I was accepted. However, I decided to take a gap year and farm green peppers for fun,”
That gap year has led to a fulfilling career as a green pepper farmer. In her first year, she worked 1 hectare of land. Once she sold the produce, she had enough money to extend her lease to include another hectare. It was at this point she realised that Law was not for her.
“I then decided to put my Law Degree on hold to pursue farming full time. I registered my company and with the support of some Good Samaritans in my community, I managed to lease a bigger plot at a cheaper rate, and they also allowed me to use their farming equipment at no cost at all,”
It is a few years later now, and she has a successful 8-hectare farm that supplies four of South Africa’s biggest wholesalers. She also has the opportunity to employ four people from her community to work on the farm. She was blessed with a donation from Construction engineering company Basil Read which included an irrigation system and a water pump.
“I am very confident about the future and I hope one day I’ll be able to open a training centre for the youth in my community and teach them about farming,”
How can I get in touch with the 20 yr old pepper farmer , I am a fruit and veg speculater ,I am currently in search of green pepper on a yearly base, I can handle any quantity.
Thank you