Backyard vegetables garden survives the market
Kenalemang told the Business Trends that he was motivated to venture into the agriculture business to address the national concern of high food import bill. “The business started in our Home village Kanye in my mother’s backyard. During that time our vegetable import bill was extremely high and most of the vegetables we needed on daily basis was not easy to find in the village. I then decided on the 1st of January 2018 that being the villager that I am, with a green touch, I was going to produce nothing but the best produce.”
To advance his skills in commercial farming, Kenalemang enrolled for vegetable production course and agrochemicals certificate with Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN). Upon completion, he further enrolled for business trainings with Local Enterprise Authority (LEA). He also undertook a Grain Farmer development course in South Africa, through AFGRI Lemang Agricultural Services, where he learnt about sustainable farming, production systems, crop marketing and financial management.
He says although food production is a viable business opportunity for youth, one must be able to have the strength and courage to face the challenges that come along. “Unlike any other business, farming is labour and capital intensive, emotionally exhausting and takes a whole lot of hard work for you to reap the rewards.”
Since he established the business, he has realised that the profit margins are very minimal and keeping expenses low is a difficult thing as implements, seeds, fertilisers and pesticides are expensive. “In farming you learn every day, my biggest lesson was realizing the importance of diversification, hence we moved from horticulture only, to grain production and hopefully before the year ends we will have ventured into agro-processing and have a livestock division.”
Despite intense competition he says they are able to thrive because the products are of high quality. They chose quality highbreed seeds and plough out of season.
“We have a detailed process in which our crops go through from planting, right till harvesting, sorting, grading and packaging and delivery. All of this is done with the utmost care, precision and love to ensure that we give Batswana value for their money.”
He said vegetable ban is a good initiative by government because retail shops are now buying local produce.
“Since the ban we have struggled less in accessing the market, however the battle of pricing versus quality still continues. I am confident that all stakeholders will find a mutual beneficial ground where the farmer is not the end loser.”