Vol 66 April-June 2026 : Business

From dawn to dusk, young and ambitious farmer Tshepo Ramolefhe works the land to grow vegetable crops in the family’s bountiful horticulture farm situated in the outskirts of Lobatse.

With no fancy barns, sheds or greenhouses, the dynamic daily rhythm of a workforce of seven shapes the outcome of the 72-hectare farm used in part. 

For the 36-year-old Ramolefhe, the humble horticulture farm is a rising business, a vibrant ecosystem and a cornerstone of her contribution to Botswana’s food security. 

“It is a complex business operation that requires careful planning, management, and decision-making. One must be smart with their finances, rigorously market products and comply with set regulations as well as constantly make decisions about crop selection for each season,” says the young and vibrant farmer.

“My father bought this piece of land from a white farmer in 2012 and since then we have had this farm in my family. I was very young at the time. My father mainly planted cabbages and other vegetables. During end of school terms, we used to come here. When other children went for entertainment or family fun days, we had to come here to help with removing weeds and so forth. It was a physically demanding and tedious.

She says they will visit the farm once in a while. “My father was a talented business man, this was his first farm. He passed away in 2016 before he could fully develop it and when he died, it died with him because we were not really passionate about farming as his children,” she says. 

It was in 2020 when she began to develop a deeper appreciation of the farm as it offered a vital lens through, which she could appreciate the intricacies and benefits of the farm. 

“In 2020, COVID-19 pandemic struck and like everyone else across the globe, I was fighting for survival. I worked for a travel agency in Gaborone and we were not closed but my salary could not sustain me. At that point the person who remained behind at the farm used to plough makgomane (calabash cucumbers) and so I used to sell them at work. I sold about 120 every day and made about P13 000 in a month. At that point I became inspired as I was making more money with farming compared to my job,” she explains. 

A point came when makgomane were no longer available. At the same time, Ramolefhe did not enjoy her job and neither farming, but she decided to grow flowers at the farm in 2021. 

She was into flower arrangement as side hustle but the plants died leaving her devastated. 

“I could spend a good year without coming to the farm. I only came to visit my father’s grave, which is here at the farm. When he passed away, he knew that we were not passionate about farming and that we might sell the land and so he made his last wish, to be buried at the farm. He knew in that way we might be scared to sell the land where he is buried,” she explains.

Even though her job was glamorous, fun and interesting as it included travelling to various international destinations in business class, checking into luxurious hotels, she was not satisfied with her pay check. 

“I was flying in and out of the country every other week but I did not earn much. At the time, I was a young mother and needed to take care of my child. I decided to leave my job in 2022 to pay full attention to farming,” she points out.

However, her financial situation declined in 2023: “I was broke and decided that I have this land, I have tasted the farm money before through sale of makgomane. I came back to the farm, reality struck and I realised the economic significance of the farm.”

Ramolefhe started small, she began to work closely with the environment, observe the seasons, understand the soil, grow and care for plants. 

This connection, she said fostered a sense of respect for nature and a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

“At the time I had no experience in farming. After leaving my job, I took all my savings amounting to P40 000 and invested in growing cabbage. I bought 30 000 heads of cabbages seedlings planted on half a hectare during spring. They looked okay at the beginning but as time went on heat waves came and destroyed the crops. I became devastated. I left the farm, went straight home and sobbed heavily and slept. I loathed farming, I swore I will never do this again,” she says. 

She quit farming yet again and never set foot at the farm: “I only came to clean my father’s grave in 2024. I had told myself that I am never going to set foot in an office. 

Tshepo gathered herself together and ignited passion for flower arrangement to make ends meet. 

“I bought flowers from South Africa and arranged for corporates, funerals, baby showers. They were able to sustain me for some time. After nursing my farming heartbreak, I later decided to give farming another try. I started with growing strawberries and they were amazing. I was able to supply high-end restaurants and hotels as well as chain stores, it was good money. Now that I had experience, I grew cabbage again and this time in winter at the right season and it flourished.”

Since then, the Shoshong native never looked back. The farm has been producing high value crops such as potatoes, cabbage, beetroots, carrots, strawberries, rape, green pepper, corn, lettuce, butternuts, Barbara, spinach amongst others. 

She supplies varied market segments from individual buyers, chain stores such as Choppies, Pick n Pay, SPAR and Shoprite, restaurants such as Ayoba, Park 27 and high-end hotels such as Avani. 

Tshepo aspires to have a firm grip of the strawberry market. She is currently using only four hectares of the 74-hectare farm, and aspires to expand further.

 “I have set myself a target that I want to reach, I may not be there yet but I know where I am going. I want to go further,” she says.

 She is well aware that farming has high returns but it is not for the faint hearted. 

“I am prepared to constantly adapt and learn new techniques. Five years from now, I see myself as one of the best horticulture farmers in the country. ENDS

 

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