 Good evening. Welcome to the farming podcast brought to you by Private Property. My name is Mbali Nwoko, the farmer and the host of the Private Property Farming podcast that comes through to your screens every Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8pm. Please follow us on all our social media channels, which is Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram. It's quite endless. And if you're looking for content as well, we've got a fantastic YouTube channel where you can catch all the farming podcast episodes that we've had. I think we're approaching a year now, so it's been quite phenomenal being part of this journey, educating you at home and connecting and meeting lots of farmers throughout South Africa in various geographic regions, locations, doing phenomenal things on the ground, supporting and also uplifting their communities that they work for. I think if you've been following this podcast, you will definitely see the growth that we've had in the past couple of months. Today, we have a farmer that is not new to the farming podcast. We've had her before. And in our previous conversation, we spoke about how to start a family farm cooperative or being in an agri-cooperative that benefits pros and cons, what to look out for, what you need to do as a member of a cooperative, the responsibilities, and how do you hold other farm members accountable? Farming can be very, very gruesome at some times and you always have to manage your business throughout the different seasons. And so if you have aspirations of joining a cooperative, please catch our episode with Ipil and Khwadi on YouTube and you will get all the advice and tips that she's given us on the pros and cons and how to start a family cooperative, how you could grow one, and what type of commodities you could choose. But today, we have her onto the show because she has just started her new farming enterprise. She has not left the family farm per se. She's still helping out a bit but we are going to talk about her new farming journey and she'll tell us all about that. So if you have any questions for Ipil and Khwadi today, please feel free to drop a comment, like, share this video. We love engagement and it's always great to also see and hear different questions that you, the audience, has for our guests this evening. So last thing, like, share, comment and please do engage with us during our conversation this evening with Ipileng. But let's bring her onto the show. Ipileng, good evening and thank you for coming back to the Farming podcast. How are you doing? Good evening everyone. Hi Bali. It's such an honour to be part of this show once again. Being part of this show again, it shows that there is something that I'm doing right. So it's such an honour to be here again. Absolutely. Don't doubt yourself. The fact that you're in farming is just amazing. And being a female in a very male dominated industry and very, very tough space to be in. I mean, we're both farmers and we know the challenges that we deal with on a daily basis on the ground. So, you know, you don't need to come into the podcast to know that you're doing amazing work. You are already doing phenomenal work. But, you know, we had you onto the show previously talking about cooperatives. Today, it's all about you, the CEO, the farmer, the female farmer, starting a new enterprise. Tell us about it. When did you start? When did you decide to break away maybe from the family operations and start your farming business? And what commodity are you trading? Okay. Thank you once again. Ipilenguaji, we've seen her. She's a young farmer from Breds in the Northwest province. And I grew up with the family background where both parents are farmers. And like Bali has said, that I've been featured on the show sharing about cooperatives farming on the previous season. So currently, you will see that most of the time I spent most of the time within the crawl in a family business actually I was dealing with the nutrition of animal. All the animals in the farm, it was my duty to make sure that they are well-fed. So, along that journey, I've just realized that, you know, there is a gap in the livestock production. You will realize that most of the imaging farmers, they just farm livestock and then they want to buy feed. They buy feed. Then I identified the gap that there is a gap that needs to be filled where I need to produce the feed. So initially, when I went and looked for the farm, I wanted to plant feed so that I can supply the livestock farmers. So now, you know, in farming, you need to plan. You need to know how you generate cash. It's not going to be easy to venture into that journey like if you get the money, you just start with feeding. So I've decided to start with a vegetable farming because if you can look around the Breds climates in our distant vegetation. So I've decided that I'm going to start with vegetables and generating that income so that I can be able to venture into planting the beans. Right. So for anybody who didn't catch that, because you did break away a little bit or we just were disconnected a little bit. So you were working in the family farm, which is a livestock farm. And now you've moved on to vegetables as a means or ways of diversification. And the capital that you're looking to generate in vegetables is to start your own feeding business because a lot of the farmers go into the industry wanting to farm livestock, but, you know, are shocked or surprised at the high prices that feed goes for at this point in time. So what type of vegetables are you farming and how many hectares? Did you have to go out and find new land or was your family farm big enough for you to start your horticulture production? I had to go out and, you know, experience and get the opportunity to learn how to access the right, you know, most of the farmers, they will be saying we need, we are struggling to get the land. So I needed, I didn't want to sit comfortable in a family farm where everything just comes easy. Remember in farming we learn everything. So I had to go out anybody, apply for the land, apply for the lease. And fortunately I managed to get the lease from one of the farmers in breves. He allocated me 10 hectares and I managed to start farming the cleavage and spinach on that land. Wow, that is amazing. You know, this is the private property podcast. How did you find this farmer who was leasing the land? Did you have to find them online, maybe on the private property site, or was it just purely word of mouth? Look, you know, there are people with farms and they are not utilizing those farms. So I took a bold step and approached this guy and look, I'm a young farmer and I can see that you put the land. Can you give me at least the 10 hectares or however that we can agree upon so that I can be able to produce, then you can sit down and negotiate how I'm going to pay my hands. So yeah, those are, you know, it's very, you know, as a young girl getting to negotiate about the land. It's on another level. So maybe break down those negotiation strategies, you know, because I've personally had people come to tell me that, you know, how do they determine between themselves and the landlord the fee or rate per hectare for renting? And it's always such a tricky one because land in various provinces fetch different prices per hectare. So maybe unpack that negotiation stage. I mean, what are some of the things that you've learned during that process? And what else could you advise to someone maybe who's just starting out on that negotiation journey? Okay, throughout this negotiation journey, sometimes it depends on the person who are approaching. Because this guy, he was not utilizing the land, he had no idea about agriculture. And then he was looking forward to learning through myself. So what happened with sat down and involved, I normally tell people that, you know, in agriculture, we need lawyers, we need financial assistance, we need so many professions within the industry. So now here's the little girl she's negotiating about the land. It's a very sensitive issue that you need to be sure that you put the contract on the table, you agree on setting 10. So there are some of my friends who are leasing and they are paying the way you're saying a per hectare, they are supposed to be paying this match. So with me, it was much better because I had the opportunity to say, look, as a palpate to your family, I'll be able to take two of your daughters, bring them on board and go with them through each and every step about agriculture so that tomorrow when I'm able to get my own farm, this one, they may be able to utilize this farm. So we've agreed upon the every 30% profits on the farm, it's for the family. And again, I am wanting, I'm facilitating his daughters. So I'm happy to say that his daughters now, all of them, they are doing the final way in the agriculture, college in Portugal. So we are moving. Wow, Ibileng, that is such an innovative way to secure land. I must say I'm quite impressed and I think, you know, you thought, you thought forward in such a way to say, how do I not only farm here, but create value and impact for young agri students. And I mean, we all know how the employment in our sector is, you know, a lot of our youth is unemployed with degrees with, you know, theoretical knowledge and expertise. And so I must commend you for that strategy, you know, because typically a person would go for rental per hectare. So giving back a certain percentage of that, and also roping in and teaching and providing skills and adding value to the landlord's daughters is such a commendable thing that you did. So let's move on to the next step. You've secured the 10 hectares, you said you're planting spinach and cabbage. Why specifically spinach and cabbage? And, you know, how difficult or easy was it moving from livestock and migrating into, you know, these cash crops and how's your market journey been? Have you started harvesting? Just tell us about why spinach and cabbage and what you did after securing that 10 hectares? Okay, look, livestock and horticulture do two different things. And you realize that now you've been doing well in the livestock, you know, the health of vaccinations and everything that includes the health of animals. And when you get to the plants now, it's different, you know, this water, you know, the water rights, you know, when you think of plants, the first thing that comes into your mind is water. Do you have enough water? Do you have water rights? You know, when I got that farm, I had the problem of the water rights, which is something that we really don't bring into our conversation, because most of the farmers we are looking at the borehole, just, but reality is that when you farm, there are certain things such as water rights that you need to put in the conversation where the government needs to make sure that the procedure of getting the water rights is no longer the long one, because even today, I have still applied the license for my water rights, and I haven't received the license. That means I won't be able to use them, the water from the dead. So those are some of the challenges that we are learning throughout farming each and every day. So now, here's the young lady, I had to prepare a borehole so that I can be able to water my plants. Remember, plants are very sensitive. So now, when we are talking about women's land, these are some of the issues that we need to bring on the table that really guys, it's really hard as a young woman, you are working hard to invest in the land, and there are people out there who are taking advantage of you. You know, even today, if I have to tell you that the borehole that I had to make in that farm, somebody had to run away with the money without delivery. So those are some of the things that are really taking us back. But the reality, I'm buying water even today, every week I make sure I buy water so that I can water my plants. And in reality, if you can look at that journey, people are going through a lot. And if I was relaxed in a family business, I would be saying no, my dad has got to water rice, we don't have a problem with the land, the production, we have commercial on the livestock. So everything just can, but I'm glad that I took this bold step and say I need to learn, I don't need to relax, I need to learn what is happening out there, how other people are dealing with such issues. But so far, I've managed to have our first harvest, though, even if I did not make profit, but I know that it's all about learning with them. Now I know that this is where I went wrong. This is what I'm supposed to focus on. And during the harvesting season, this is what, you know, basically in farming, we work with the calendar, with the season, and especially in horticulture, you guys are waiting. Indeed, horticulture is quite intensive. Yeah, it's very, very intensive, as opposed to livestock farming. But, you know, you've mentioned so many critical elements. It's about, you know, when you start any farming operation or your farming business, there's a lot of learning that has to go into place. And if you're a young person as well, you know, going to new territory, not having enough experience, there are people, unfortunately, that will take advantage of your lack of knowledge in that specific commodity, and in your case, in horticultural vegetable farmings. And again, water license, you know, how you have to comply with government laws and regulations. All of these things, these are stumbling blocks and challenges that can deter anyone from even deciding to pursue farming, because, you know, you pass one hurdle, then you're met with another and another and another. So I did ask, why is it that you decided to farm spinach and cabbage specifically? I'm glad you started your first harvest. So take us through that marketing thinking, right? Why is it you decided on spinach and cabbage? Is it a crop that not a lot of people are farming in your area? And maybe is it high demand? Or do you feel that, okay, these are the most in demand crops that, you know, anybody can buy, whether it's formal formalized or established businesses, right through to the informal traders. And how many hectares of that 10, 10 hectares are you producing the spinach and cabbage? Okay, on it's five hectares for cabbage, five hectares for spinach. And, you know, I know I believe in, you know, in the informal market, you know, from a family business, you will realize that we have the market, we are supplying bullets with meat and we are relaxed. We know basically that we are sure of the market. But when you get to the spinach, you know, we have us, and then instead of taking the spinach to the market and decided that, you know what, I'm just going to stay on the street and sell and get 100% profit. There's nobody who's going to determine the price. I'm going to determine the price of self. So I've been getting 100% profit from selling the spinach and cabbage. Yeah, and who's guiding you through that crop production process, you know, having come with a very heavy livestock background, who's guiding you with the crop production process, dealing with pest and diseases, dealing with crop rotation practices? Like you said, also, water is very, very critical. I mean, we're approaching the very, very hot months where Brits is going to be blazing hot. So who's guiding you through that crop rotation process, growing a successful crop to sell to your market at the end of the day? Okay. In my profile, you'll realize that in the office of the premier in facilitating youth among the mentoring program for youth in the Northwest province. So basically, we do have WhatsApp groups. You know, these WhatsApp groups, they are very, very important. Don't undermine them because at the end of the day, we meet each other. We are trying to make a daily change within this WhatsApp groups. So whenever I'm experiencing a testing program, a problem, I'm able to stay look, this is what I'm going through, guys, can you help me with those people? They respond immediately. They respond immediately. So there's an opportunity in the market, those guys just share the crisis loop. Because today, the market is doing well. Let's go and take our products there. So yeah, through the network, we are able to assist one another. Yeah. And for someone listening to you, because I like the word that you keep using comfort, coming from an established family farm, you're comfortable in just operating in that environment. Now, you went out and branched out and went on your own, learned so many things, overcome certain hurdles. And for a person who maybe doesn't come from a family farm background, but is pretty much on their own, meaning they're the first to go into the agribusiness sector or into the farming sector, rather, and starting out maybe in vegetables. Like, how much does it take to start such an operation? Looking at the seeds, your seedlings, maybe if you're using seedlings, fertilizers, boreholes, you know, how much should one be looking at in terms of maybe putting it in the kitty and say, this is my budget to get the basics right before I start planting. Maybe it just could be an average figure just to start off with. Okay. Depending on the amount of land that you want to use, but the borehole costs up to 90,000, 90,000 just for the borehole. This is how much I spend. And then about land preparations when you lease, when you rent out those farming implements, remember, all you need to prepare the land. They'll be telling you 10,000, 10,000 to prepare the land, just to prepare. And then you still need fertilizers and pest control. So just to let's say 140,000. And still you are not sure if you are going to make the profit. Wow, that is very true. If you're just catching us this evening, we're speaking to a farmer in the Northwest based in Brits, Ipilenguari, and we're speaking about her new venture that she's just started recently a few months ago. She comes from a very established family farm supplying beef to a well known retailer. And she took a bold chance to say, hey, I'm going to find my own land, be on my own and start a horticulture business. And she's currently farming vegetables, spinach and cabbage to be precise. And I know you're probably looking at the title here to say, leaving a family farm to start her own empire. And indeed she's pretty much walked us through her journey of how difficult it's been starting operation. So I think for anybody watching this evening, just note that starting a business and growing it into something that is not worthy that clients could speak about and be happy about what you're producing does take a lot of work and it takes guts to succeed in that space. So Ipilenguari, you started, you've planted, you've harvested, you've found your own strategy to say you're going to farm to the informal markets. How's it been also training these young female graduates that you've onboarded and provide skill on how to farm? How's it been just being the CEO of your business navigating a new business, which is a new commodity that you're learning, at the same time trying to educate, train and uplift the youth that you're mentoring your business. How are you managing all of that? Well, because I'm one person I believe in working collectively. I do once in a while go to the high, I believe in the value chain starting from the high school. I do go to the high schools and talk to agriculture learners, adopt some of them, take them to the farm, show them that this is what we do in the agriculture sector. There are a lot of opportunities that you can do. And I'm happy, you know, I think three years ago I started this initiative of coming back to the community, going to the high schools, sharing with those learners that look, there's so much opportunities in the agriculture. Now, some of them are still at the college and some of them after completing their agricultural studies, they don't know where to go. They'll be asking you in your DMs, keep it in, I need to come and volunteer. You know, I want to tell them, don't give up. Most of the things they've started with volunteering. You know, when you volunteer, you are exposing yourself out there that this is me, I'm able to do one, two, three. So with the agricultural qualifications and you sit back at home and watch other people doing agriculture, it's not going to work for you. Just go out. There's nobody who's going to come and help you if you don't help yourself. So even some of the agricultural intent and those who are unemployed graduates, they do come and volunteer in the farm. And then obviously we see how we can assist them because, you know, life is so tough to work without getting anything. But one thing that I always tell them is to work hard, to work hard. Somebody out there will be looking at us. And at some point, I'm quite confident that if I can keep the funding from the government or any private sector, I can be able to employ more and more and more youth, more especially women. You can see how pipe and you've got a lot of young people, women who are working hard day by day. We are looking up to you. You know, I always tell you that I'm always reading your article. So it's upon us farmers to make sure that this industry is doing well. And we produce the most important thing. It's business. It's not like it's a business. We want to make money and we want to expand to other African continents, other African countries and say, let's work together as a group. You know, in Africa, Africa is rich. Africa, there is potential. There is so much skills that can be developed. There's so much production that can be done in Africa. We can even export to other countries. So if South African youth and Zimbabwe and Botswana, we are working together, this is going to be so much in Africa. Absolutely. I like the fact that you mentioned that this is business. Farming is business. And talking about business, having left the operations at the farm within the livestock farm, has your family supported you in this new venture? And how have they supported you? Well, I was struggling with text compliances. Then my dad used to come and say, you know, baby, this is how we do things. Because you are on your own, on your own campaign, you want to make decisions on your campaign. You want to be a sticky old. It's your responsibility to make sure that at the end of the month, you must be able to pay your employees. Never ever miss a day, the day of paying your employees and your tech. Make sure that you can complain about the text and text, the text everywhere, but make sure that you pay for yourself. So they are very supportive. All my initiatives that I do, my sisters and my brothers, they do come and see how they can assist me in growing. Even you saw our event, the one of the, I was telling my sister that you must come and support. So you are strong about, you know, some people will think that IPLN is doing well. And it's not because of me or my identity. Behind me, there are a lot of people who are more especially. Wow. That's great to hear. And to know that your family is 100% besides you. And I agree with that. As farmers, you need to have a network, you know, of individuals that you could obviously contact at any given point in time, more especially when you're experiencing challenges. So what's next for your farm operations? We're going into a new season right now, warmer season, summer season. What's next on your farm operations? And where do you see yourself in the next three to five years? Okay, agro processing. You know, everybody's talking about agro processing. Now we are talking about technology now. We are coming smart. I need to see myself on the next generation being one of those successful agro processing ladies processing, sending our products in Africa in other countries. And I've got so much. But look, I used to respond to that question with passion. I used to say, look, I want to see myself exporting sending my product in other countries. But right now, we've got crisis in South Africa. There's a lot of unemployment. So now most of my plans, they have to be within home. You cannot improve other countries or other continent while at home, there is a huge gap of unemployment. So right now, with our business models, we are trying to see how we are going to create enough employment in the agriculture sector. Indeed, charity does begin at home. And I like that approach. You know, it's about uplifting the communities that we serve and that support us at the end of the day to sum up this conversation, which has been very, very thoughtful and enlightening, as well as inspiring to learn and hear about your story. Because it is woman's month after all, and you're a young female farmer in the sector, what final words or would you give to young females or just women in the agri space and not necessarily farmers, but people that are working in maybe government offices who are facilitating policies that are favorable to farmers, maybe women in the banks who are running small portfolios or large portfolios in the bank industry where agribusiness or agriculture is concerned to science, you name it. So what advice would you give to women in the agricultural sector since it is woman's month? Okay, now I think COVID-19 came at a time where it made us aware that we have the potential. You know, with so much job losses, we have seen a lot of people showing interest in the agriculture space. So what I want to tell them is that it's possible that you can invest in the agriculture sector. You need to start small, you learn, allow yourself to make mistakes, correct them, don't give up, and you use those mistakes to change and so that you can grow. So let's go back to our roots, start small, don't want 500 licks without knowing how you're going to utilize, make your researches, do your business plan, ask people, the most important thing is to ask people with experience to help you. Thank you so much. Oh, thank you so much, Ipilenguari, you're such a gem that was Ipilenguari Livestock, oh, actually now Horticulture Farmer based in Northwest. She was previously on the show talking about cooperatives and she touched on her family farm that is a livestock farm. But this episode was all about her new business, her new venture which she started farming, cabbages as well as spinach in the Brits area. So I like some of the highlights for me is that I like her approach in finding and seeking land and also negotiating for this farm lease that she's farming on. And she shared some gems pretty much on the average or startup costs that you could look at spending for your seeds, for your seedlings, your fertilizers, your borehole as well. And so I hope that when you're watching this episode, if you missed it or if you've watched it tonight and joined us this evening, but didn't ask questions because you were really, really glued to the screen and listening to every single word that Ipilenguari said. I hope you really learned a lot because she touched on some very, very important points and factors that not only as woman but just as new entrance in the farming space face, water license regulations, challenges of having to find the right suppliers, credible suppliers that could actually deliver a job at the end of the day, even after you've paid them and also trying to identify ways to market your product and also lift the community. And that's what you will hear in this episode tonight. Thank you so much for joining us. Thank you and please catch us on Thursday at eight o'clock. And you can catch the repeat of this episode on our YouTube channel. That is it from us. Take care and good night. Thank you.