Libuseng Molato
Mamello Makhobotloane, a 24-year-old passionate youth from Hlotse, Leribe, owns MHM Field Fresh, an agro-processing company. She studied Project Management at Central University of Technology in South Africa.
MHM Field Fresh sources fruits and vegetables from community farmers processes them, and packages and distributes them into convenience food products. Currently, MHM offers fresh pre-cut vegetables, frozen fruits, frozen vegetables, frozen fries, and potato wedges.
Makhobotloane, grew up in an entrepreneurial family. Her father was an entrepreneur, and her grandfather was a passionate farmer. Seeing her grandfather face the challenge of post-harvest loss inspired her business idea. “Seeing his fruits of hard labour go to waste several times hurt me. I thought it was not only him but most farmers who faced the same challenge caused by a limited market. I had to come up with a solution,” she explains.
Makhobotloane, saw an opportunity in her grandfather’s losses and decided to chop the products and sell them. Her customers loved the idea and suggested she offer frozen ones, making the idea market-driven. She also realised that the world is busy and many women do not have time for chopping.
“I started my entrepreneurial journey when I was eighteen and in my first year of university. Immediately after I graduated, I fully focused on the food processing business,” she says.
Makhobotloane, participated in the Sebabatso programme in 2023, became one of the top 15, and won a prize, allowing her to expand her business with the grant.
This year, she attended a two-week dairy products and food processing seminar in China, where she learned about advanced food processing technologies, approved food certification, and aquatic product food processing. “During our study tours, I saw a company that processes sauces and marinades, which motivated me. I had always wanted to produce jam and other products with our locally fresh produce,” she says.
The young businesswoman, driven by the China tour, is now in the stage of product development research to see how the market will respond to her new product. She aims to launch it before the end of this year and believes it will help extend her business.
Her greatest challenge is the insufficient and inconsistent supply of raw materials.
“Farmers are not producing massively, but that is my mission, to create a market for local farmers, enhancing the role of women and youth in agriculture.
“At first, I had a contract with certain farmers but had to discontinue because they failed to adhere to agreements due to challenges they face as they are still growing and lack technical knowledge,” Makhobotloane, mentions.
She adds that farmers need to produce different products and supply throughout the year, not just seasonally.
“My plan is to expand the business, open branches in other districts, and supply major retail stores in the country like Shoprite, Pick’n Pay, and Econo Food. I have already contacted them, and they are interested in our product. The only challenges are certification and a bigger working space to increase production,” she explains.
She revealed that potatoes are in high demand.
“I would like farmers to increase production because sometimes I fail to supply my customers. I call potatoes my ‘cash cow’ because they are my main source of cash flow, being used in almost every meal and every place,” she concludes.