Up close and personal with Lengau Mothiane – African Farming

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN?

Don’t be negative and try to learn a lesson from every experience.

IF THERE WAS ONE THING YOU COULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY, WHAT WOULD IT HAVE BEEN?

I think everything happened the way it was meant to. I have made mistakes but then I had the opportunity to learn from my mistakes.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST SUCCESS TO DATE?

Being able to work with my father and build what we have with no funding or financial assistance.

WHO HAS MADE THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION TO YOUR SUCCESS?

My dad has laid a good foundation for me. But other people, such as the Mosweu family, Patrick Sekwatlakwatla, Carel Serfontein and David Whitfield, have been instrumental in my development.

WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP DO YOU HAVE WITH YOUR NEIGHBOURING FARMERS AND WHAT ROLE HAVE THEY PLAYED IN YOUR SUCCESS?

I have a good relationship with neighbours who have been of great assistance to us. We have worked on our relationship with the township community who are also our neighbours. When we arrived here, they didn’t like the fact that the farm had been given to people from Qwaqwa while they also needed land.

WAS IT A STRUGGLE TO GET FINANCE AND WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR ANYONE LOOKING FOR MONEY?

We have never received any funding and my advice is that if you are passionate about farming, just start farming and an intervention will come your way.

WHAT ROLE HAVE INPUT SUPPLIERS, LIKE ANIMAL HEALTH COMPANIES, PLAYED IN YOUR SUCCESS?

Input suppliers offer a great deal of support, particularly in providing information on how best to use their products for maximum value.

IF THERE WAS A SINGLE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

We need to have co-operation between black and white, young and old, women and men. The government needs to play a huge role in this. We also need support beyond the training courses, especially for youth.