Moji Precious Kodisang Is Building a Brighter Future for Agriculture in the Free State

Moji Precious Kodisang is showing how determination, access to finance and a commitment to agriculture can help build a stronger future for farming in South Africa. Through Milton Agricultural Primary Co-operative Ltd in Thaba Nchu, Free State, she is developing an emerging agricultural enterprise alongside her son, Mosimane Kodisang. The cooperative produces maize, soybeans and sunflower while also running a livestock farming operation. Together, these activities form the foundation of a business that aims to become sustainable, productive and commercially viable. Moji’s journey also highlights the important contribution women farmers make to South Africa’s agricultural sector and the opportunities that can emerge when they receive the right support.

Milton Agricultural Primary Co-operative Ltd became a Land Bank client in 2023 through the Land Bank Blended Finance Scheme. The financing provided important support for the cooperative during the summer cropping season, a period when farmers require significant resources to prepare land, purchase inputs and establish their crops. Through a production loan, the cooperative was able to secure essential agricultural inputs and increase the number of hectares under cultivation. This allowed the farming enterprise to strengthen its production capacity and take practical steps towards expansion. For an emerging agricultural business, access to funding at the right time can make a significant difference to its ability to plant, produce and plan for future growth.

The cooperative’s production of maize, soybeans and sunflower gives the business a diverse crop farming base. These crops require careful planning throughout the production cycle, including land preparation, planting, input management, crop monitoring and harvesting. The cooperative must also manage its livestock farming activities, which brings additional operational responsibilities and costs. Balancing crop production with livestock farming requires careful financial management and efficient use of available resources. Moji and Mosimane are therefore not simply producing agricultural commodities, they are working to establish a diversified farming enterprise with the potential to grow into a stronger commercial operation.

Access to finance remains one of the key factors that can influence the growth of emerging farming enterprises. Agricultural production requires substantial investment before farmers can generate income from their crops, with costs covering inputs, fuel, labour, land preparation, equipment and other operational requirements. Limited working capital can prevent farmers from expanding their cultivated areas or obtaining the inputs they need at the right time. The production loan provided through the Land Bank Blended Finance Scheme helped Milton Agricultural Primary Co-operative Ltd overcome some of these financial pressures during the summer season. By increasing the hectares under cultivation, the cooperative has been able to strengthen its production base and continue working towards its long-term agricultural ambitions.

Despite the progress made, Moji continues to face challenges that affect the cooperative’s ability to expand. Access to suitable land remains an important issue as the enterprise works towards increasing its production capacity. Machinery is another challenge because modern agricultural equipment can improve efficiency and help farmers manage larger areas more effectively. The cooperative also requires additional operational capital to support its activities and take advantage of future opportunities. These challenges demonstrate that the development of emerging farms requires ongoing support across several areas, including finance, land, machinery, infrastructure, technical knowledge and market access.

Moji’s response to these challenges reflects her determination to build a sustainable farming business. Agriculture requires farmers to make careful decisions while managing risks that can affect production and income. Weather conditions, input costs, market prices and access to resources can all influence the performance of a farming enterprise. Farmers must therefore remain focused on their long-term objectives while adapting to changing circumstances. Moji’s continued commitment to Milton Agricultural Primary Co-operative Ltd demonstrates her willingness to keep pursuing growth despite the obstacles that stand in the way.

Her partnership with her son, Mosimane, also gives the cooperative an important intergenerational focus. Agriculture can provide young people with opportunities to develop practical skills, business knowledge and experience in food production. When younger family members become involved in farming enterprises, they can learn from existing experience while bringing new ideas and approaches to the business. Moji’s work alongside her son creates an opportunity for agricultural knowledge and entrepreneurship to continue into the next generation. It also demonstrates how family farming businesses can become platforms for creating long-term economic opportunities.

Moji’s story carries particular significance during Women’s Month because it highlights the role women play in building agricultural enterprises. Women farmers contribute to food production, rural economies and the development of agricultural businesses across South Africa. Yet access to land, finance, equipment and other resources can remain a barrier for women who want to grow their farming operations. Creating pathways that allow women to access appropriate financing and agricultural support can help unlock their productive potential. Moji’s experience demonstrates how financial support, combined with determination and effective management, can help a woman farmer strengthen an enterprise and pursue a bigger vision.

The support received through the Land Bank Blended Finance Scheme has helped Milton Agricultural Primary Co-operative Ltd take important steps towards that vision. The production loan enabled the cooperative to secure essential inputs, increase its cultivated area and strengthen its production capacity during the summer cropping season. While the funding did not remove every challenge, it provided the financial foundation needed to make progress. Continued access to appropriate agricultural finance could help emerging enterprises like Moji’s address some of the operational pressures that come with growth. Her experience illustrates the value of connecting determined farmers with financial mechanisms that can support production and enterprise development.

Moji Precious Kodisang’s farming journey is ultimately a story about building for the future. Through Milton Agricultural Primary Co-operative Ltd, she is producing maize, soybeans and sunflower, maintaining livestock and working alongside her son to develop a sustainable agricultural enterprise in Thaba Nchu. Challenges around land, machinery and operational capital remain, but her determination continues to drive the cooperative towards greater commercial viability. Her story shows how strategic financing can help determined farmers expand production while creating opportunities for their families and communities. This Women’s Month, Moji embodies the message “Empowered Women Empower Nations” by demonstrating how an empowered woman farmer can strengthen an agricultural enterprise today while helping create a stronger farming future for the generation that follows.