Maile Matsimela provides an inside look at the operational scale, workforce dynamics and government collaboration that drive Matlou Farming’s vegetable production enterprise in Sekhukhune District of Dennilton, near Groblersdal.
By Maile Matsimela, Digital Editor at African Farming
Situated at 5 Morgan, Matlou Farming, formerly known as Ngwanalamola Ngwetsana Joint Venture, has become a significant employer in the Elias Motsoaledi Municipality, with Mfiso Matlou demonstrating how farming can drive local economic growth. The operation currently employs 11 permanent staff members, including Matlou and his sister as founding partners, along with approximately 80 temporary workers during peak season.
“We emphasise providing skills training for our employees and aim to hire locally wherever possible, especially for entry-level roles,” Matlou explains, highlighting the farm’s commitment to community development. When specialised expertise is required, management positions may be filled by individuals from outside the area, but the focus remains firmly on creating local employment.
“My sister Hloniphile and I both hold a BTech in Agricultural Crop Production from Tshwane University of Technology,” Matlou explains. This training would spark a modest joint venture that would eventually grow into a sizeable farming operation. Their training was also essential in navigating the complexities of modern farming.
Slowly Does It
The journey took time. After finishing their studies, both siblings initially sought employment, understanding that capital and experience would be crucial. Matlou gained valuable experience at the Buhle Farmers Academy before venturing into independent farming.
“We started our separate companies in 2011 and 2012, and formed our joint farming venture around 2017,” he recalls. What began as operations on just 0,5 hectares of family land under sprinkler irrigation and ploughed with a rented tractor has systematically expanded through careful planning and strategic government partnerships.
The transformation of Makau Farming involved significant land development and infrastructure investment. The operation has systematically cleared and developed 23 hectares of land, demonstrating a thorough approach to improving agricultural infrastructure.
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“We hired a bulldozer for the clearing process, fenced the entire area, and installed a centre-pivot irrigation system as part of the development,” Matlou details. The first centre pivot was bought using profits saved from the operation in 2019.
An interesting footnote is that the other half of the land where the first centre pivot is situated was initially owned by someone else, and they had to buy it to allow a 360-degree movement of the pivot. The farm gets most of its water from the perennial Moses River, supplemented by boreholes as backup water sources.
When African Farming visited Matlou farming, about 80 seasonal workers were busy clearing more hectares at the farm to make way for the second centre pivot, as the farm prepares to expand its operations during the upcoming summer season.
Government Support
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has also provided essential infrastructure financing.
“We have received substantial support from the Department of Agriculture, which has been very helpful. We sat with our extension officer to write an application requesting a storage facility. They built this beautiful shed for us and supplied a second centre pivot,” he says, pointing to the big, modern structure.
The relationship between Matlou Farming and the Department of Agriculture illustrates successful public-private agricultural collaborations. The farm has also received support in the form of fertilisers and insecticides, which Matlou says have significantly lowered their production costs.
These storage and irrigation investments have improved the farm’s ability to manage produce quality, coordinate market deliveries, and guarantee water security for ongoing production.
When asked about the widespread belief that the government doesn’t assist farmers, Matlou offers a pragmatic view: “Farmers need to understand that government operates on annual budgets. Often, farmers want something from the department without submitting proper or relevant documents, and are also not willing to wait.”
His advice to fellow farmers reflects the patience and persistence that contributed to his own success: “They must not lose hope and just make sure that they submit all the relevant documents required and allow sufficient time for the processes to work.”
Skills Training and Job Creation
The business specialises in vegetable farming, with cabbage, butternut squash, pumpkin, and Hubbard squash as its main crops.
The scale of production is impressive, particularly the cabbages. The farm plants between 22 000 and 25 000 cabbage heads per hectare, with density varying depending on the specific variety. “For one particular area of five hectares, we planted about 120 000 cabbage heads,” says Matlou.
Matlou’s approach extends well beyond production, demonstrating a profound understanding of the market. “We use specific varieties like Megatin cabbages, which are preferred by the informal markets for their size, taste, and shelf life,” he explains.
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The farm has established a variety of market channels to ensure steady demand. “We primarily supply the informal market, targeting buyers of large and extra-large heads,” alongside formal channels such as Joburg Fresh Produce Market, Springs Fresh Produce Market, and local retail outlets in Groblersdal, including Boxer stores through intermediary arrangements.
Market timing has become essential for profitability. “We time our planting and harvesting to align with high-demand periods when supply is low to maximise profits,” he explains. “Farmers who don’t research market demands face difficulties selling unsuitable or poorly timed crops.”
Practical Innovations
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Matlou’s operation is how efficiency has been maximised through practical innovations. Instead of waiting for brand-new equipment, the focus has been on acquiring and refurbishing secondhand implements, including transplanters, boom sprayers, and hydraulic disc harrows.
“We modify these implements to meet our precise farming needs,” he says, demonstrating practical problem-solving that characterises successful operations. Soil health remains a priority, with the farm utilising compost sourced from livestock operations to enhance water-holding capacity and nutrient availability.
Using a rotavator with bed formers creates raised seed beds that improve drainage, root development, and nutrient uptake. These innovations, combined with proper storage facilities, enable better harvest management and reduced post-harvest losses.
The farm’s location within Matlou’s village means its success directly affects the local community. “We promote local employment to create jobs and bring hope to the community,” Matlou states, recognising agricultural success as a catalyst for broader community prosperity.
Plans to Diversify
Looking ahead, expansion plans are ambitious but cautious. The farm aims to diversify into green mielies, lettuce, potatoes, and robot peppers, gradually increasing both scale and variety. “We plan to buy additional land to expand our operation and output,” he says, while acknowledging that scaling up brings greater responsibilities, which also means creating more employment opportunities.
When asked for advice to other farmers, Matlou’s responses reflect both his educational background and practical experience. “Understanding both customer needs and the specifics of target markets is crucial,” he emphasises. “Planning and combining theory from education with practical experiences are necessary for long-term success.”
His focus on record-keeping, market research, and timing offers a blueprint that other farmers can follow, demonstrating that with a solid education, strategic partnerships, and community commitment, farming enterprises can achieve significant economic impact.
Furthermore, Matlou Farming’s dedication to skills development goes beyond its workforce through partnerships with agricultural training institutions. Brucol Global Development, an agricultural consulting company specialising in developing the agricultural sector in Africa, particularly in rural areas, regularly places students on the farm for practical training.
Skhumbuzo Masango, one of the students from Brucol currently training at the operation, speaks enthusiastically about the experience: “It’s very good experience to be training at this place, especially learning from a black farmer that I can say is still young and educated, so there’s much to learn. It’s about combining theory and experience, being exposed to the real work life, to bolster the theory that we receive. It gives me the skills and knowledge to adapt to certain environments.”
The farm’s success is also due to good working relationship that have been built over time. Matlou holds particular admiration for his tractor driver, Bonginkosi Gumede, whom he describes as a friend and colleague from their days at Buhle Farming Academy. “We came here together,” Matlou explains, emphasising the importance of trusted partnerships in agriculture.
A New Generation of South African Farmer
Gumede is far more than just a tractor driver, also overseeing general farming operations.
“I drive the tractor here and also oversee all the activities to make sure everything is in order,” Gumede explains. “If there’s anything wrong, then I report it to the office so that it can be sorted out.”
This integrated approach to farm management demonstrates how successful operations rely on experienced staff who possess both technical expertise and a comprehensive understanding of the overall farm objectives.
From his early days without basic equipment to managing a modern operation with over 90 employees across 23 hectares featuring centre pivots and expansion plans, Mfiso Matlou embodies the new generation of South African farmers who recognise that farming success depends on education, innovation, government collaboration, and community involvement.
This operation further demonstrates how individual agricultural success can fuel wider rural development, generating employment, motivating other farmers, and showing that with the right approach, agricultural ambitions can become powerful catalysts for community prosperity.
As the operation expands and explores new crops, Matlou’s journey acts as both an inspiring and practical guide for establishing sustainable agricultural enterprises in South Africa’s changing farming landscape.
