By: Noko Mashilo
Farming serves as therapy for Matome Mokgobu of Mosibudi Farming. For this commercial farmer from Gemarke village in Limpopo, working the land helps her relax and lifts her spirits when she is feeling down. Her main focus is potato farming, as they are a staple food in many households, offering versatile cooking options like boiling, frying, mashing, or using in stews and soups. She also grows mustard, spinach, butternut and onions as secondary crops.
Mokgobu supplies her produce to the local Bochum market, informal traders, Boxer, Spar, and also exports to Mozambique, Lesotho and Botswana. “I don’t supply the Johannesburg City Deep Fresh Market because my potatoes are unwashed. Unwashed potatoes last longer since the soil protects them from light,” she told Vutivi News. When asked about her marketing strategy, Mokgobu said she preferred selling directly on the street because she was easily recognised and received more referrals.
“This is effective marketing and the profit is good. It also helps when my volume is low since I can’t take small quantities to the formal market,” said Mokgobu, whose prices were determined by current market rates. Mokgobu uses social media extensively to reach a wider audience. “I make many sales through online marketing. Before I even go out to sell on the street or deliver to local stores, I often have enough orders online. Sometimes, I even receive orders from as far as Lesotho, Botswana, Gauteng and the Free State,” she said, noting that she did not use any specific branding or packaging with her name on it.
She buys packaging bags from agricultural stores and ensures her products are neatly packed. “For example, with butternut, I simply buy bags according to sizes and get them ready for sale,” Mokgobu explained. To gather customer feedback and improve her crops, Mokgobu relies on customer calls and WhatsApp messages. “Customers sometimes complain about mixed potato sizes or a single rotten potato spoiling the batch,” she said.
Mokgobu’s business ethics have led her to collaborate with other farmers, especially when she has large orders. “I approach those who have already harvested to add to my order and deliver to customers. This helps meet market demand and builds healthy working relationships.”
Proud of her farm’s success, Mokgobu emphasised that potatoes were the main source of revenue. “Potatoes are the gold of my business, followed by short-term crops like spinach, which are available daily. What’s interesting about potatoes is that they can be stored for extended periods without refrigeration, providing a reliable food source throughout the year,” she explained.
Mokgobu said she managed her farm’s budget and expenses through a market research production plan. “Each year I know what to plant in which season and how long it will take to harvest. When we augment our income, I know exactly what to purchase for the farm, whether it’s new equipment, seeds, fertilisers, paying labour, services, or expanding the land for planting. This helps me track where the money goes.” Mokgobu emphasised that growing potatoes helped communities reduce reliance on long-distance food supply chains. “Let’s keep the economic benefits closer to home,” she urged.
