“You cannot always look at com- panies to get a job, sometimes you have to create your own opportunities.”
These are the words of a 27-year- old Rendani Mukoma from Thononda Mazwimba village outside Thohoyandou in Limpopo.
Since last year, Mukoma turned his father’s 8 hectares piece of land into a productive small farm where he crops cabbages and a wild vegetable known as ‘Muxe’. “I didn’t study agriculture, it is something that has always been part of my life. I would come back from school to help my father at the farm or herd cattle,” he says. Realising the potential of the business, Mukoma joined hands with his siblings Stephen and Serubabel Mukoma to grow the family business. His brother Serubabel says, “Although Rendani is the brain of the business, we all con- tribute towards growing the business.”
They sell the produce to local spar, boxer stores and local communities.
Mukoma’s father, Samson Mu- koma (66) applauses his son for the good work. “I am very happy that my farm is in good hands and it keeps growing. Like other parents, my hope for him was to find a ‘cool job,’ but given the high rate of unemployment, he developed a passion for agriculture.”
“I am glad that the rest of the family supports him, these boys play a crucial role in the country’s economy, and I believe this business will make a difference in the lives of residents in the community,” he says.
Alluding to the difference the farm makes in the community, a local who buys vegetables at Mukoma farm, Sera Mudau says she gets vegetables at the farm at an af- fordable price. “Through agriculture, the Mukoma brothers are feeding the community, we no longer travel a long distance to buy vegetables.”
With a Diploma in Marketing, Mu- koma encourages young people to put their abilities into practice. “Do not stall waiting for a job with a qualification, use your skills to start a business,” he concludes.
