Wendy Moshakga from Moletjie in Lonsdale, Limpopo, didn’t plan to become a farmer. After her studies at a TVET college in 2021, she found herself facing the same challenge of unemployment that confronts many young South Africans.
By Maile Matsimela, Digital Editor at African Farming
With limited options available, Wendy made a practical decision. “People eat at least three times a day,” she reasoned, and decided to enter farming. It wasn’t because she had an agricultural background or passion for the land, but it was simply because she identified farming as an essential and sustainable business opportunity.
She started small, converting a backyard shack at her family home in Lonsdale into a chicken house, and began with 50 broilers. The backyard operation allowed her to learn the basics and generate some capital. After gaining experience and raising funds from her chicken venture, Wendy shifted her focus to vegetables, specifically cabbage production.
Building A Sustainable Operation
As demand for Wendy’s produce grew beyond what her backyard could supply, she took the significant step of leasing a 7ha farm in Blood River. This expansion marked a turning point in her farming journey. In Blood River, she developed a more sophisticated operation, adding pig farming to her activities. She currently has more than 120 pigs, primarily Large White and Duroc breeds used for breeding stock.
What sets Wendy apart is her approach to cabbage farming. Although many farmers avoid growing cabbage during summer because of pest problems, Wendy adapted her methods to grow it year-round. During peak summer months, she plants up to 20 000 heads of cabbage monthly. She also practises crop rotation with spinach, beans and maize to maintain soil health.
However, the expansion came with its own challenges. The Blood River farm lacks electricity, forcing Wendy to rely on a generator for power. Capital constraints and the need for proper infrastructure remain ongoing concerns.
Wendy’s success didn’t go unnoticed in her community. Her local king, Kgoshi Kgabo Moloto III, observed her progress and made a significant decision. He has now allocated 20ha of land to her in Lonsdale, which she will be occupying soon. The Department of Agriculture in Limpopo also stepped in to help develop this land, helping with borehole drilling and land clearing.
Grateful For Traditional Leadership
“I am truly grateful to King Kgoshi Moloto III for believing in me and allocating 20ha of land in Lonsdale,” Wendy says with genuine appreciation. “When he saw what I was doing with my small backyard farm and the leased land in Blood River, he gave me the opportunity to expand and grow my business properly. King Kgabo is a leader who likes his village people to prosper. He notices when young people are trying to make something of themselves, and he encourages that success. He wants to see the youth thriving and creating opportunities, not just sitting at home unemployed.” Wendy pauses, thinking about other communities. “I wish more traditional leaders could do the same thing. There are so many young people with ideas and willingness to work, but they need that support. If more kings and chiefs could look at their communities like King Moloto, we could see real change in our rural areas. His vision of village prosperity is what makes the difference.”
Also read: Meet Leydah Sekgobela, a former teacher who traded textbooks for farming
Understanding The Market Through Specialisation
Wendy, who is widely known as the cabbage lady, says when you specialise in one crop, customers start to know you for that crop. Now when people in Lonsdale and surrounding areas need cabbage, they know where to go. This, she says, helps to build a loyal client base. “If I was growing a bit of everything, I’d just be another farmer. But because I focused on mastering cabbage, especially growing it when others can’t, I built a reputation. Customers trust that I’ll have quality cabbage available even in the difficult months. That’s how you build a business – you become known for doing one thing very well before you try to do everything.”
Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba’s Agricultural Vision
Wendy’s farm, Serage Farms, is one of the projects that was adopted by Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba in her first State of the Province Address to make agriculture a key component of her economic development strategy for Limpopo. She views agriculture as a critical driver of economic growth, with particular emphasis on empowering young people and women in the sector.
The Premier’s approach focuses on transforming subsistence farmers into commercial producers and creating an inclusive agricultural sector. She committed to support emerging farmers, especially young women, recognising agriculture’s potential to address unemployment and stimulate sustainable development.
On 18 September, Premier Ramathuba visited Wendy’s farms in both Lonsdale and Blood River. The visit was part of the Premier’s commitment to supporting emerging farmers and assessing their needs for further development.
The Premier made specific promises during her visit, such as continued resource support including pesticides, fertilisers and technical advice, infrastructure development assistance, help with scaling up operations to achieve commercial viability and integration into broader government programmes supporting emerging farmers.
For Wendy, the Premier’s visit validated her approach and hard work. “At the right time, the government will help you,” she reflected, expressing gratitude for the recognition and support. Her journey demonstrates the importance of starting with available resources and growing gradually as opportunities arise.
