By Faridat Salifu
Mulelwa Mashau, a young agricultural graduate from Tshwane University of Technology, has built a thriving vegetable farm from just one and a half hectares of land, overcoming early career detours, market entry barriers, pest-related crop failures, and financial constraints with persistence and technical know-how.
Mashau, who holds a diploma in crop production (2019) and an advanced diploma in crop science with a focus on plant-based technology (2021), initially set out to become an engineer. But her career path shifted to agriculture, a field she says “chose her.”
After completing her studies, she briefly worked outside the agricultural sector before returning to her hometown in Limpopo in late 2021, encouraged by her family, who provided both financial support and land access.
By October 2021, she began clearing the family land. A year later, in 2022, she launched full-scale production on the 1.5-hectare plot, dividing it into four sections to grow spinach, cabbage, chillies, butternut, and green peppers. Without formal funding or business partners, she operates the farm independently, handling crop management, logistics, and negotiations with retailers.
“Sometimes I must supply two shops at the same time. It’s not easy,” she said. Her persistence in accessing markets paid off after she approached retailers directly, bringing samples of her produce. “I went straight to the manager with my spinach, chillies, and cabbage. He liked the quality and asked me to deliver 100 bunches the next day.”
Mashau employs seasonal workers during planting and harvesting cycles but handles business decisions, transport, and sales herself.
She says the knowledge gained from her academic background has been crucial in maintaining production quality and adapting to challenges such as pest infestations.
One of her early setbacks involved losing an entire cabbage crop to diamond back moths. Since then, she’s introduced a twice-weekly pest control routine and adjusted her planting calendar to align better with seasonal conditions.
Her farm continues to face exposure risks due to a lack of protective infrastructure like shade nets. Wildlife intrusion especially monkeys has become a recurring issue, with some crops such as tomatoes and green peppers frequently targeted. “They just take the produce. If you don’t have protection, it’s a big loss,” she noted.
Fuel costs also remain a significant concern. With inconsistent delivery schedules from buyers, Mashau has to manage overheads carefully, as there is no steady daily income. “It’s challenging since the orders aren’t regular,” she said.
Despite these hurdles, she remains focused, crediting her family’s continued financial and moral support as the backbone of her progress. “Even when production is lost, they keep me going. They remind me why I started.”
Now in her fourth year of farming, Mashau is outspoken about the need for more young people especially women to enter agriculture. “Farming is not just for men,” she said. “It’s something women can thrive in if they’re passionate and willing to work.”
She also cautions against the misconception that farming offers instant wealth. “It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. If you don’t truly love it, you’ll give up. But if it’s in you, it’s fulfilling in a way money can’t match.”
Mashau believes the current gap between agricultural education and real-world practice contributes to the high number of graduates who don’t pursue farming. But her own experience, combining academic training and fieldwork, shows that starting small and leveraging existing support can lead to steady growth.
“I love being on the farm. No one has to wake me up. I go there because I want to. I look forward to it every single day.”
As she looks ahead, Mashau plans to expand her market reach and gradually invest in infrastructure improvements. Her longer-term goal is to scale her operations and formalise her business, offering employment opportunities and mentorship to other young women aspiring to enter the agricultural sector.