Lesego Mpho Mohube is making her mark on South African agriculture without inherited land, family backing or guaranteed entry into the sector.
By Talitha Janse van Vuuren, Multimedia Editor at African Farming
Growing up in North West in a household where farming was never considered a career, Lesego discovered her passion for agriculture only after school, when she enrolled in a Diploma in Agriculture in Mixed Farming at the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture.
In 2025, her dedication and skill were recognised when she won the Student Sustainability Award at the South African Agricultural Awards, in partnership with the Agricultural Sector Education and Training Authority (AgriSETA). Today, she farms in Gauteng under a shared production agreement, focusing on crop production under tunnels and supplying fresh produce to formal markets. Her journey from agricultural graduate to market supplier reflects both the challenges faced by young farmers and the determination required to succeed anyway – through training, deliberate choices, strategic planning and sheer persistence.
The Pressure of Limited Pathways
At college, Lesego realised that most of her peers came from established farming backgrounds. Many had clear postgraduation paths – family farms to return to or strong networks within the industry. For first-generation agricultural students like her, the future was far less certain. Employment opportunities in agriculture are limited, and access to land is not guaranteed. Many qualified graduates struggle to find placements, even in entry-level roles, and for those funded through bursaries, the pressure to secure work quickly is even higher.
This challenge mirrors national trends. According to Statistics South Africa, the official unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2025 was 32.9%, with the broader rate – including discouraged job seekers – at 43.1%. The National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) notes that although agriculture provides jobs, employment is often seasonal or temporary, making long-term entry difficult for young farmers. For those who remain in the sector, self-employment often becomes less a choice and more a necessity.
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From Classroom to Cultivation
The final year of Lesego’s diploma was spent completing work-integrated learning on a farm. She gained hands-on experience managing production under tunnels, learning the realities of planting, crop care and harvesting. During this period, she and a business partner produced vegetables supplied to the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market. Their first delivery sold out completely, confirming that their produce met market standards and demand.
When the placement ended, her partner stayed at the farm and Lesego moved on – determined to broaden her experience and build her own path in agriculture. She also gained valuable experience working with Eastern Cape potato farmer Thulani Magida before her final-year practicals, an experience that sharpened her discipline and reinforced the demands of commercial farming.
A Deliberate Focus on Crops
Lesego now farms under a 50-50 production agreement with a landowner. The arrangement provides access to land, water, electricity, irrigation and equipment, and she covers seedlings and crop protection inputs. Produce is shared equally. For many young farmers, such agreements represent one of the few realistic entry points into production, given the persistent challenge of accessing suitable land with reliable infrastructure.
Trained in mixed farming, Lesego has chosen to focus on crop production. The decision is strategic – crops allow quicker turnaround, lower start-up costs and flexibility while building experience and capital. Livestock production remains part of her longer-term vision, but for now, crop farming provides a manageable starting point, allowing her to refine systems, build consistency and remain financially viable.
Her approach is both practical and ambitious. Within months of managing her first tomato tunnel, she expanded to 10 additional tunnels, rotating crops, advising on chemical use and supporting neighbouring producers pursuing organic practices. Her green peppers, grown with a business partner, sold out completely under the RSA Group, proving that high-quality produce and strategic planning can secure success even for new entrants to the market.
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Farming with People in Mind
Lesego employs people from the surrounding community, prioritising permanent roles where possible. Although seasonal labour is common, she sees permanent employment as a tool to build stability, skill and long-term impact beyond the farm gate. Even at a small scale, these decisions influence livelihoods and strengthen the local economy.
Despite holding formal qualifications, she continues to seek mentorship from experienced farmers. Agriculture is never static – conditions shift, seasons vary and experience remains essential. Lesego encourages aspiring farmers to pursue accredited agricultural education alongside mentorship rather than relying solely on short or informal courses.
Lesego represents a growing wave of young black women farmers entering the sector despite systemic barriers. Her story asks a challenging question: How many capable young farmers are willing to start anyway – and how many never get the chance? Through mentorship, strategic planning and determination, she is proving that with the right mix of skill, persistence and access, the next generation can not only survive but also thrive in South African agriculture.
Starting Anyway
Lesego hopes to one day farm independently, expand production, include animals alongside crops and create permanent employment opportunities. Her story is not one of overnight success or inherited advantage – it is the story of a young graduate who reached the edge of the system and chose not to step away.
Agriculture rarely follows a fixed plan. Planting schedules shift, seedlings are lost and delays occur. Lesego has learnt that setbacks are part of the process rather than a sign of failure. Her journey reflects a universal truth: Progress rarely belongs to those who stand on the sidelines pointing out risk or failure, but to those who step into uncertainty and continue working anyway.
To paraphrase Theodore Roosevelt, it is not the critic who counts – it is the person who is actually in the arena, striving valiantly, who makes the difference. Some opportunities do not materialise, while others emerge unexpectedly. For Lesego, success depends on timing, persistence, strategy and the courage to start before all conditions are perfect.
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