PRODUCER FOCUS
Julias Ramohlabi, Senwes Manager:
Developing Farmers, is a man who
wears many hats. In the upcoming
editions of Senwes Scenario, he will
be taking us to many a developing
farmer and through the various
services Senwes offers develop-
ing farmers. Some of the services
include access to finance, mentor-
ship, market and farm planning.
From top cop,
A happy Isaac Mokhatlha
to growing
crops
In this edition, Julias Ramohlabi, Senwes Manager: Developing Farmers, introduces us
to Isaac Kagiso Mokhatlha, an ex-cop and happy client who has seen a turnaround in his
farm’s production since aligning himself with Senwes.
By Kefiloe Manthata
I
EARLY YEARS
saac Kagiso Mokhatlha was born on
a farm in Lindley, Free State in 1966.
It is there that he spent his formative
years learning about and develo
ping a passion for farming that continues
to sprout inside him to this day. His life
journey saw him joining the South African
Police Service in 1986 where he served
devotedly for 19 years. In 2005, Mokgatla
made the decision to no longer ignore
the pull towards his passion and resigned
from the police service to pursue farming
on a full-time basis. He was a warrant offi-
cer at the time.
SENWES
It is through Senwes Manager: Developing
Farmers, Julias Ramohlabi that Mokhatlha
came to know about and eventually deve
loped a relationship with Senwes. He
marvels at the change since becoming
a Senwes client and what Senwes has
done for his business. He believes he
would not have planted on as much land
before Senwes “adopted” him. Mokhatlha
managed to plant 175 hectares of maize
this season, something he says would not
have been possible had it not been for
the help and support he received from
Senwes through Ramohlabi. He hopes
that the company will continue to aid him
with skills management, especially with
regard to the management of his farm’s
finances.
THE SHIFT INTO FARMING
In 2003 Mokhatlha already began his
slowly edge into farming, buying and
selling cattle in and around Lindley. He
suffered a blow at one point when his live-
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