After receiving R50,000 funding from the National Youth Development Agency to purchase the equipment, Letlotlo Modise started his business in 2016, specializing in aquaponics, which is a more technical form of agriculture in which fish and plants grow together in water and no soil is required.
Unfortunately, he had to review his business plan because he found aquaponics too expensive and his business was running at a loss. He decided to go back to the drawing board and opened a consultancy offering agriculture services.
Modise is teaching people how to start their own food gardens in the Northern Cape. He is the owner of TréCulture, which specializes in designing small farms, greenhouses, indoor growing solutions and gardens for locals in Kuruman so that they can grow their own food. He notes that due to food insecurity challenge in many communities, young people are eager to start farming but they do not know how to get their food gardens going.
“We teach people to produce quality fresh produce just about anywhere in their homes, be it on the balcony, a plot, backyard or even indoors. It depends on the needs of our clients. I give the necessary support and teach them what they need to know. You do not need a large piece of land to do agriculture, especially subsistence farming,” said Modise.
Modise grows herbs and leafy salads at his home food garden and supplies to local restaurants on-demand.“I package my products under my own brand, TréCulture, in biodegradable packaging to create sustainability and a cleaner environment,” he added.
Although he has not managed to create jobs as yet, he hires workers when necessary. He believes the impact he has had in his community is equal to creating job opportunities because he has equipped people with skills that enable them to grow their own food and avoid hunger.
If you interested in learning about farming, contact Modise on treasurecorp@gmail.com or 063 529 7001 ( via WhatsApp).
