Keneilwe Raphesu Building Resilient Farming Enterprises in South Africa

Keneilwe Raphesu is an award winning farmer, agricultural consultant and Director of Mogalemone Pty Ltd, a mixed farming operation specialising in livestock and grain production. At just 26, she has positioned herself as a leading voice in South Africa’s agricultural sector. Her farming enterprise focuses on cattle, pigs, soya and maize, combining practical production with strong business management. With years of hands on experience, she integrates animal health management, crop production and strategic planning to drive sustainable agricultural growth. Her work reflects a clear goal, to build resilient farming businesses that can compete in a changing agricultural economy.

Raised in rural Limpopo, Raphesu started her journey farming on communal land without equipment, funding or formal support. These early challenges shaped her determination to improve conditions for smallholder and emerging farmers. In 2020, she took over her father’s farm and began restructuring operations to increase productivity and profitability. In 2021, she launched her agricultural consulting businesses, Mogalemone and KR Farming Enterprise, offering advisory services, compliance guidance and business planning support to other farmers. She manages livestock health, oversees sales, trains employees and mentors fellow producers, positioning herself as both a hands on farmer and strategic leader.

Her influence extends beyond her own farm. Raphesu is the co founder of Agriduo, a platform designed to equip new and emerging farmers with practical knowledge, training and market ready skills. Through this initiative, she advocates for farmer support, compliance education and access to funding and market opportunities. She believes that youth empowerment and education are critical to strengthening South Africa’s food systems. By sharing knowledge and promoting structured business practices, she helps farmers move from subsistence to commercial viability.

Raphesu’s impact has earned her national recognition. She was named Emerging Farmer of the Year 2021 and received nominations for Livestock Farmer of the Year and Young Farmer of the Year by the SA Agricultural Awards, as well as Female Farmer of the Year by the Department of Agriculture. She has been featured in Farmer’s Weekly, Stock Magazine, African Farming, Carte Blanche and Food for Mzanzi, platforms that highlight innovation and leadership in agriculture. She remains committed to seeing more women dominate and lead within the agricultural industry.

In 2023, Raphesu faced one of her greatest setbacks when she lost more than half of her cattle and pigs due to unforeseen challenges. Heavy rains and flooding worsened the situation, leading to further losses in her piggery operations. The financial and operational strain forced her to reconsider her production model and market focus. Although she considered shifting entirely to grain farming, she recognized that diversification was necessary for stable income. Instead, she chose to rebuild her cattle operations and streamline the business by focusing on a single breed, selecting Bonsmara over Simmental to improve efficiency and herd consistency.

Today, her farm concentrates on Bonsmara cattle, pigs, soya and maize, balancing livestock and crop production to spread risk and maximise returns. What drives her is passion, patience and perseverance. She believes that understanding the demands of agriculture allows a farmer to endure hardship and remain focused on long term goals. Through resilience and strategic restructuring, Keneilwe Raphesu continues to demonstrate how young farmers can lead, innovate and strengthen South Africa’s agricultural landscape.