A ‘ninja in the nursery’ is how Lindiwe Ludada, the deputy chairperson of the Modulaqhowa Primary Cooperative Limited describes her role in their thriving agribusiness in Botshabelo, Free State.

The cooperative was awarded the prestigious Communal Farming Association of the Year accolade at this year’s Toyota South Africa and Agri South Africa farmers’ awards, which also recognised the best new entrant in the New Harvest competition, as well as the top Young Farmer of the Year, the well-known competition that has been running for two decades.

This intensive farming business utilises shade netting and plastic tunnels to grow indigenous trees, fruit trees, flowers (mainly roses), vegetable seedlings, and shrubs.

The Modulaqhowa Primary Cooperative Limited team at their nursery. Photo supplied

Originally formed in 1992 by Gauta Waste Management and the Mohaladitwe Greening Project for income generation and to reduce unemployment in the community, they started by producing trees in the school garden. The group registered a close corporation in 1994 and moved to a larger premises.

Today, there are six women and one man tending to the nursery. The project started in 2013 when the founders decided to leave the running of the business to their wives and daughters. The women then changed the project’s legal entity to a cooperative in 2015.

“This was a transition from a closed corporation, which was started by our parents and grandparents but we are still carrying on the culture,” explained Simphiwe Staat, one of the directors.

The nursery produces indigenous trees, fruit trees, flowers, vegetable seedlings, and shrubs. Photo supplied

Since 2015, the project has also won several categories of the DAFF female entrepreneur awards and also received competence certificates from Chartell Business College.

An agricultural advisor from the Free State Department of Agriculture, Biopelo Mocwiri, nominated the group for the award. “I started working with the group long ago, working with their parents. But then we shifted the focus to empower women and youth, and they’re still being mentored by their parents even today.”

According to the judges, which include heavyweights in agricultural research such as Prof. Carlu van der Westhuizen from the Central University of Technology, Dr Brink van Zyl of Stellenbosch University, and Prof. John Annandale from the University of Pretoria, one of the most important contributing factors to the success of Modulaqhowa, is its succession plan.

“In the process, they were also better positioned to fit into the government funding strategy, which they have effectively utilised over the last decade,” comments Van der Westhuizen.

Toyota’s Leon Theron, Free State Agriculture Department'’ Biopelo Mocwiri, Lindiwe Ludada, Simphiwe Staat, and Prof. Carlu van der Westhuizen. Photo supplied

Other key factors leading to their successful horticulture business include:

• Using animal manure and plant residues to make compost and growth mediums.
• Regular monitoring of plants.
• Integrated pest management strategies.
• Optimal utilisation of water.
• Establishing relationships with multiple local and national buyers, and entering into contracts to secure sales.
• A healthy group dynamic.

“They have, among others, a detailed task list that outlines the weekly responsibility of each of the nine permanent workers and five casual workers. They have frequent team meetings to discuss progress, share challenges, and establish specific measurable goals for individual members which can help them to stay focused,” adds Van der Westhuizen.

Mocwiri commended the group for their resilience and said he felt they needed exposure to show others how to prosper. “I saw this group was working very hard. They have a lot of knowledge in a field where black farmers are not traditionally doing that well.”

Speaking after the winner announcement, Staat reflected on the importance of the award. “It means a lot for us as the youth to have this type of motivation. For us, this is a tap on the shoulder to say ‘You can do more. You can do better. Carry on doing the good work.’ We have no words, just a lot of gratitude for the opportunity Toyota has provided us.”

Ludada said the R300 000 prize money will go a long way to improve their operations. “Create a better working environment, growing more, learning more, and empowering more. Employing more people.”

All the finalists also received a trophy to display proudly at their business. Photo supplied

Toyota South Africa Senior Vice President: Sales and Marketing, Leon Theron, believes investment must take place at the grassroots level. “We have similar projects where we identify talent and assist learners to qualify as engineers in the motor industry. It starts with people working their way up from the bottom.”

He added the company believed in supporting the agriculture industry, which forms a large part of their client base. “It doesn’t matter if you’re at communal or commercial level.”

In the night’s other prestige categories an Eastern Cape farmer from Maclear, Dwayne Kaschula, was awarded the Toyota SA/AgriSA Young Farmer of the Year for his diverse operations including maize, potatoes, livestock, and egg production. KwaZulu-Natal farmer, Meshack Ndongeni from Kokstad, was crowned Toyota SA New Harvest Farmer of the Year 2024.

OFM Agri/Elzette Boucher-Krüger cg