18 Aug 2024

A maroon trunk-like corrugated iron house stands desolate as some remainder of what used to be a trusted refuge and or shelter that used to house Mr Gaongalelwe Maedza and his girlfriend at their Kgwatalala ploughing field turned farm.

It is replaced by two concrete walled rooms standing a distant apart.

The one on the south, a closest neighbour to the corrugated iron house, houses a shower room as part of the attachment.

Just an arm’s length from the entrance of the yard, home to the farm houses, sits a 98 000-litre water reservoir that feeds from the equipped borehole a few metres into the ploughing field. Far south is the 10 panel solar plant that fires the borehole into filling the P50 000 worth reservoir.

On the west of the farm houses are multiple heads of cabbage readying for the market. About five thousand heads are planted in a 2 500 square metres and blossom freely and greenly under the sun.

Besides the northern block of cabbage is rape trying to find ground, springing up from the soils to soon become some relish in some homesteads.

On the west of the two cabbage blocks is a barren block. Only drying leaves and some sprouting cabbage here and there.

It is a reminiscent of the just sold 5 000 heads of the cruciferous vegetable.

Before planting the cabbage this year, Mr Maedza used to grow tomatoes, butternut, green pepper and some water melons amongst others.

Unlike some young people his age who wallow in self-pity, others testing their mettle in some inconsequential youthful activities that renders them temporary gratification, Maedza plants and waters his dreams through horticultural farming 10km away from Bobonong.

After resigning from an unrewarding hustle in the capital city of Gaborone, Mr Maedza packed his bags and retraced his steps home for a new start. To his benefit was his just-retired mother with a knack for farming.

She pushed him into considering Youth Development Fund as an avenue to eke a living, which he finally did in April 2022 and subsequently funded in November of the same year.

From the P63 000 he was funded with, Mr Maedza utilised the sum into equipping a borehole, solar panels, purchasing of drip lines for the first block, seeds and fertilizers.

From sales of the first and subsequent harvests, he purchased more drip lines, a bigger and stronger water pump and changed the initial solar panels, which were overwhelmed, for the best suited ones.

Up to now, the 30-year-old Mr Maedza is tilling a hectare and a quarter, planting cabbage and rape in this cropping season.

“While helping my mother with her tomatoes, though she had initially planned on planting fruit trees, it then dawned on me that horticulture could be an answer to my life struggles after turning my back on working at various supermarkets in Gaborone,” he reminisced.

Propelling the self-taught young farmer into waking up and pushing harder daily is seeing and benchmarking from successful farmers. Horticultural officers at the ministry of agriculture too have been a driving force behind him, providing torque when the push seemingly weakens.

At the time of the interview some seedling for rape, tomatoes and green pepper were sprouting from the seedbed while his two assistants toiled under the sun, preparing for their ultimate transfer to the field.

Pests and diseases are some of the challenges the young farmer is alive to, but he relies on the little experience and professional assistance to react in time.

“I’ve already established clientele for my produce, especially butternut, which I have been planting and have harvested three times before trying out cabbage,” says Mr Maedza, adding that the market for food was ever ready.

The 30-year-old is confident that he would be able to repay the P63 000 loan as a lump sum before the end of the year.

He will then focus on surviving without a loan as he seeks to expand gradually until he cultivates the whole five-hectare farm.

“Plans are afoot to plant over 60 000 heads of cabbage since it is a fast-moving product,” he said, adding that he would sow at intervals so that he keeps selling.

While he taps on the power of social media to advertise his farming enterprise, Mr Maedza also lauds the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture for their continued referrals.

“The office also helps in marketing our products and they make us aware of various opportunities to exploit,” he said.

In addition, the office through the submitted monthly reports, pays site visits to appreciate challenges as well as check on the progress of the project.

As a young man growing into the horticultural field, Mr Maedza advises that it could be dangerous to go around sourcing for too many pieces of advice, especially on the type of vegetables to grow.

“As you benchmark you sometimes get some scary testimonials and opinions to the effect that you may end up ditching the idea altogether,” he said.

He encourages other young people to apply for YDF in respect of enterprises they are passionate about. Again, Mr Maedza encourages those who can to also consider other related funding streams to further bolster their dreams.

After being funded through YDF, Mr Maedza exploited the now defunct ISPAAD to erect the 98 000-litre reservoir at the cost of P50 000.

He paid P25 000 whilst the government took care of the other half.

Mr Maedza advises that young people should spend their time at production areas to monitor their projects with ease and be hands-on. Ends