Disebo Makatsa

I believe in making strides, if you look at where and when I started with farming, I can tell a story.

Her love for farming pushed her to establish her own company that deals with dairy and vegetables to supply businesses in the Free State and other provinces. Disebo Makatsa founded Dee-ytrading in 2004, where she is a managing director and a large-scale farmer in the family run-business.

Born in the Free State mining town of Welkom, Makatsa’s passion for farming saw her push the boundaries to reach the top in the male-dominated industry, especially by whites of Afrikaans heritage, when she started farming informally in 2000. She runs Dee-y-dairy and Dee-y-veggies at Erfpag farm between Welkom and Odendaalsrus in the Free State. Makatsa owns 66 cows that produce the milk she processes at her dairy for her clients, which include one of the largest dairy companies in the world.

She says she is grateful her business is contributing to food security, employment and poverty alleviation.

“I’ve always had a passion for nature and producing food, working the soil and seeing the results is fulfilling and rewarding to a farmer. Farming is therapeutic and the way to go, and the fact that it contributes to the country’s economy and is a mass creator of jobs is motivating,” she says.

She says it will be great to see women collaborate by “using our different businesses and expertise as women we can have a positive impact in our communities”.

“I believe in making strides, if you look at where and when I started with farming, I can tell a story. I like to see youngsters, especially women, picking up the baton and growing the farming industry,” she says.