Muifha Tshfhiwa
What started on a mere 2.5-hectare (ha) piece of land turned into a commercial playground for Mulalo Nengwenani.
Mulalo, a young female farmer from Mulodi village under Thulamela Municipality, Vhembe District began her journey as a farmer in 2010. This was after her father gave her a start-up of 2.5 hectare (ha) of land, where she planted tomatoes.
Her first harvest from that start-up proved enough evidence that Mulalo has what it takes to stand on her own feet. Her proven ability in the industry scored her another expansion of her area of operation from her father, producing mixed vegetables.
She finally took over the baton carrying the 25 ha soon after her father, who was her inspiration, retired from farming.
Her endurance has never gone unnoticed. She attended a business pitching training along with other entrepreneurs from other spheres of business, facilitated by the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) in 2022. The business pitch coupled with Individual Readiness Assurance Test served as a selection criterion for the export business opportunity to international space, but Mauritius precisely. Mulalo was the only cash crops farmer who made it through the test.
Two years later, Mulalo was named amongst the delegates heading to Mauritius to participate and showcase her produce on international platform. Expectation is that Mulalo should bring along a 2kg of fresh mixed produce coming directly from Nwanedi, which she would make a business pitch presentation revolving around that pack.
All wishes and hopes are upon her business pitch. Should things go well, Mulalo could find herself scooping an international off-take agreement for export. This will not only benefit and expose her to international markets, but local farmers will also get recognition to grow their local economy. South Africa will also be counted on the map.
In a 25-ha taken over from her father, Mulalo is currently producing tons of fresh, quality mixed vegetables. She drew inspiration from her father whose success as a farmer could be seen in his ability to grow his family and educated his children through farming.
Her message to agripreneurs, Mulalo said, “You must love what you do. The life of a farmer is seen through his or her zeal to continue beyond storms, droughts, diseases, and pests”.
