07 Nov 2017

Mr Mandla Malasa, 27 is among Batswana youth who have benefited from government’s economic empowerment programmes.

In an interview, the Tatisiding born youth explained that he once took an uncertain journey in December 2014 to the youth offices to get informed about the procedure required for one to get assisted through the Youth Development Fund programme.

He said he was given the necessary requirements to get assistance from the Youth Development Fund initiative.

“With the explanation I got from relevant authorities, I opted to venture into a goat production business following my determination and passion in considering farming as a life time business that I could earn a living out of,” he explained, adding that he had inherited farming skills from his grandmother, Ms Baganeng Lowani of Tutume.

Mr Malasa explained that it took him three months to complete all the requirements of the YDF forms and he was funded to the tune of P96 000.

With the seed capital he said he managed to buy all the necessary resources associated with goat production.

He shared that since he started goat production his life has significantly changed as he was now an ambitious youth farmer.

He said the business was giving him dignity and helping him make ends meet.

He said farming was one economic sector that needed to be tapped into since it could play a significant role in changing many lives of Batswana.

He called upon the youth to desist from the negativity that farming was difficult and time consuming.

The negativity, he said, has discouraged many youth to embrace farming to earn a living.

For him, he said the sky was the limit and that farming would forever be his way of life.

Highlighting his future prospects, the inspirational youth noted that in the next five years he wished he could expand his business to include cattle and fodder production.

He explained that it only took one to be self-determined, patient as well as passionate in farming in order for him/her to be successful.

Mr Malasa appreciates the continuous efforts by government to ensure that people’s lives were transformed and developed through various economic programmes.

He advised fellow countrymen to follow suit in utilising available government initiatives in order for them to be economically empowered.

He put emphasis on the youth to play a leading role in benefiting from such programmes since they were the most vulnerable people when it came to unemployment opportunities.

He advised aspiring youth farmers to seek business advices from relevant people and stakeholders so that they could be familiar with the right experiences.

Mr Malasa is now operating from Tatisiding lands and he explained that his business would penetrate the local market and internationally.

Mr Malasa also expressed dissatisfaction over some youth who benefited from government initiatives, but left their business to collapse.

He stressed that such businesses were a drawback for government's efforts since the funds would be misused. ENDS