Woman jumps deep in poverty eradication

By Majara Molupe

BEREA- ‘Matiti Kabi, a young Mosotho woman who is the founder and president of Alosang Enterprise says her destiny in agri-business has not been an easy one as she met problems that would have stammered a less determined individual.

Kabi says she ventured into the field some 16 years ago driven by the passion to bring about a change in her life and lives of those around her but most importantly, to contribute significantly to Lesotho’s ailing economy.

She says she used to listen to radio programmes about tips in agriculture in all its spheres be it crops, poultry and many more.

However, this farmer who employs about 80 people (20 permanent staffers and 60 part-timers) told the Informative in an exclusive interview at her farm in Berea that she opted for agri-business because she wanted to counter the traditional practice of producing for consumption thus looked for land to make her dream a reality.

Meanwhile, the farmer said that she had entered into protected farming because she wanted to produce throughout the year to satisfy the local market which she said is booming.

“I could not have financial means to venture into this project. I had been tossed from pillar to post in search of funds where l knocked on almost every door soliciting funding,” she says.

Kabi said in her hard journey, she was informed of the Smallholder Agricultural Development Programme (SADP) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) that met her half way with some funds to help her buy two green houses.

“I had already saved some little money that was supplemented with the money from the SADP grant,” she said.

She was able to buy a farm big enough to help her venture into the project where she ploughs tomatoes, green peppers, cabbages, spinach and many other vegetables on the Berea plateau.

Having produced these vegetables, she had to look for a market to service hence she found herself hopping across some shops throughout the city.

“I had to be patient and to listen to what these shops really want from me so that they could buy my products. It was unbelievable when they contracted me to supply them with the products from my farm,” she said, adding that she also supplies some hotels in the city.

Kabi says at the beginning, they used to import seedlings from South Africa but today they buy locally since there are some Basotho who are able to produce them in bulk.

 “We work hard to support local farmers,” she disclosed, adding that their goal is to eradicate poverty and change lives of the locals.

Kabi added that SADP did not only support her with grants but also with trainings geared towards empowering her in the agri-business sphere, saying that working with a committed staff has helped her reach her business tentacles.

Kabi further disclosed to this paper that she also packages her produce before taking them to the market according to the standards set by the retailers that she supplies.

There has been a worry for the local producers of agricultural products that big shops do not accept their produce.

However, the Regional Manager of Shoprite Checkers Pitso Melao says market is plenty in all their stores for Basotho farmers strongly appealing to Basotho to come and take money from their shops since it is there only waiting to be taken by those ready to satisfy the market demands.

“There is no difference between products produced in Lesotho and those from South Africa for as long as they are of a quality required,” he says, adding that they also work hard to eradicate poverty in the country.

He says they have had a long journey working with local farmers of various products where he says some bring eggs while others like Kabi supply vegetables.

However, Melao remains firm that all they need is the standardisation of products supplied by the farmers where he speaks strongly about the value supplied by the farmers coupled with safety of their customers who buy the products.

“We have to ensure that our customers would be safe after using our products,” he says. “We also want fresh products for our customers.”

“We want produce that is well and properly packaged and that has bar codes,” adds Melao.

He says it is untrue that they do not buy the local products.

For his part, Samuel Mphana, the General Manager of Pick’ n Pay in Lesotho says there is nothing that irritates his eyes than seeing vans and trucks full of cabbages from South Africa to Lesotho.

Like, Melao, Mphana says there is unlimited market of agricultural products in his store that is waiting for Basotho to grasp it.

“Poverty eradication and employment creations amongst Basotho nation are our goals,” says Mphana.

Kabi is setting an example of what the Malabo Declaration 2014 under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) strives for, which is the empowerment of women in food production and ensuring that women are key players and actors in contributing to the delivery of increased agricultural performance as well as ensuring related impact on livelihoods.