Force to be reckoned with on the land

PERSEVERANCE: HARD WORK, DETERMINATION AND PASSION PAYS OFF FOR RURAL BUSINESSWOMAN

- Masoka Dube

A rural woman from the Northern Cape is a force to be reckoned with in the livestock farming business.

Mary Baitsiwe from Kome village near Kuruman has a good story to tell when it comes to starting a business without funding.

Baitsiwe started her farming business, Bokhutlo Trading Enterprise, in 2005 with only two goats that she had bought using the money she had been saving while working at a local supermarket.

As she was busy strategising on how to grow the enterprise, a friend whom she had lent money paid her with a sheep - something she appreciatedand since then she remained focused on growing her business of raising animals and selling them.

Her willpower and perseverance had paid off because she is now a well-known farmers owning 20 cattle, 89 sheep, 77 goats, 65 chickens and 15 turkeys.

"As soon as I received that sheep from a friend, I told myself that the next thing was to make a plan and find a way to get more livestock.

"I still remember it like yesterday. I was so excited and I immediately started to erect a kraal to accommodate it. The next step was to learn how to take care of the animals and prevent them from getting infections.