EP 165: Maboang Matlou, The Miracle Tree: Transforming Agriculture with Moringa

Maboang Matlou, founder of Lefakong Farm, shares her journey transforming a family farm into a thriving moringa enterprise that addresses nutrition, climate change and economic development simultaneously.

Maboang's story is a masterclass in agricultural innovation and perseverance. Get started with moringa farming by listening to Maboang explain the research, planning your market strategy, planting, and maintaining consistency. 

Transcript

Introduction to Moringa: The Tree of Life

Speaker 1 0:00

Right . So moringa is a tree of life , so they call it the miracle tree or the tree of life . It's a tree that is actually packed with 92 trace elements , minerals , vitamins . It's highly nutritious , and the tree of life is not only about nutrition for human beings . It can also be nutrition for animals , nutrition for the soil , and what I love most about it is that it actually speaks to climate change , right ? So because it's a tree , it speaks to climate change .

Speaker 2 0:34

So within that tree of life , there's so many spin-offs that one can look at hello everyone and welcome back to another episode of the RutoSounds podcast with your girl , anne Withany . If you are a new listener or watcher , welcome to the show . It's always such a pleasure and , for all the regulars , thank you for returning . Now make sure to like and subscribe to the channel . Also , share this episode with someone who might be interested in listening to it and if you're listening to us on audio , make sure to follow us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or wherever else you listen to the show . Now let's get into today's episode .

Speaker 2 1:40

Moringa is often referred to as a miracle tree because of its high nutritional value and resilience in diverse climates . This makes this crop a vital food security , health and economic growth . Mabuang Matlo , the founder and the CEO of Lefokang Farm , an agriculture enterprise specializing in moringa cultivation and agro-processing . With over seven years of experience in the agriculture sector , she has transformed her family's farm in northwest South Africa from 1,000 Moringa trees to more than 7,000 . This is also complemented by a successful agro-processing facility . Maboang is also the president of the Moringa Development Association of South Africa and today she talks to us about her journey in moringa farming , how she got started , some of the challenges and also some of her future prospects . Let's get into this episode . Hello Mabuang , welcome to the show .

Speaker 1 3:00

Oh , good morning and thank you so much for hosting me this morning . Well , good morning and thank

Mabuang's Journey from Corporate to Farming

Speaker 1 3:03

you so much for hosting me this morning .

Speaker 2 3:05

It is such a pleasure to have you on today . I'm so excited to talk about you and the work that you do . We've had a nice engagement last week where we got to meet in person , which is really exciting . So this is now just an extension of that wonderful conversation that we had in person .

Speaker 1 3:29

So first , things first , please introduce yourself to our listeners . My name is Mabua Makhlo . I am the CEO and founder of Lefakom Farming . At Lefakom Farming we do moringa production from farm to packet . That's owning the full value chain . And you know we are organically certified .

Speaker 2 3:51

We produce an area of products as well . Lovely , let's start at the beginning . Mabuang , how did you even get into farming , first of all , and then more specifically , moringa farming ?

Speaker 1 4:07

Okay . So 2014, . I decided to leave corporate and venture into farming . We have a family-owned farm and my dad was a piggery farmer then , so I was interested in what he was doing on the farm and you know , I reached my you know peak in corporate and I wanted to do something different . So that's when I ventured into farming . But I started with cash crops your spinaches , green peppers . We did poultry production and piggery , of course . But you know , the first big break happened when lottery actually gave us money under their miscellaneous funding . Yes , I applied for that with my NGO and , boom , they gave us money and that's how I managed to develop my family farm .

Speaker 1 4:48

So 2017 , while we're still on the lottery funds and things were going smoothly , unfortunately we were hit by the avian flu , so we lost about 5,000 birds . And again , you know , when you're a young farmer starting , you don't know where to go . You know you're still trying to find your feed . So we're actually supplying your pick and pays um directly to the stores , without , without produce . And then one day they decided that no , no , guys must actually go through the dc . Now the dc channel actually um is more complex because there's other players . Uh , then there's also issue of pricing . So you know you've got to think around those things . We tried to take it to the markets . Again Issue was pricing .

Speaker 1 5:33

That's when I decided , okay , I'm going to stop doing cash crops , I'm actually going to focus on something that's more niche . And prior then I'd actually been doing a lot of research around Moringa from 2011 . I actually had a mentor . Her name is Ms Hanneke Lutz , and she actually gave us our first thousand trees . That's how we actually managed to go commercial . So when she saw that I was ready from our mentorship program , she said right , here's your trees , please go ahead . And that's how the journey of Moringa began in 2017 . Up to now , so it's been quite a journey .

Speaker 2 6:06

It's super exciting wow , what a journey . And it's quite interesting because one of my next questions was like why , moringa , when everybody is doing , you know , the cash crops that you that you mentioned backtrack for me a little bit . You mentioned something about DC or something like that . What is that and why was that such a big , major shift for you as one of the catalysts for you to get here ?

Speaker 1 6:31

So DC is distribution center that these major retailers utilize , right so , where all the produce is dropped to them and they will then distribute it to their stores Vis-a-vis . When you walk into the store as a working client and sell the produce , so you will find in retail your spas and pick and pay checkers . There are those that are privately owned and there are those that are distribution center owned , right , where the distribution center then controls what produce goes out , what products goes out to those stores , right ? So that's why , then , it's created a serious barrier for us . It was a challenge because then , if I'm going to DC , I've also got Anne , who's potentially supplying spinach , so then the price that I was selling as a walk-in supplier R7.50 would then drop to R2.50 .

Speaker 1 7:25

So there's that competition there , a lot of competitions happening there . And remember , now you know , once they've got a fixed price , right , so you can't go in and negotiate prices they say we're taking your spinaches at 2.50 . And also it also goes with the demand . So if all the farmers are not bringing spinach because the demand is high , you can imagine what goes on , right . So it's also a lesson that I'm telling farmers , aspiring farmers , before you plant just understand where are you taking your products to right ? Close those first , because you don't want to sit with produce unnecessarily , especially your cash crops . I mean , what are you going to do with it Once spinach is ready to be harvested ? It's got to go somewhere .

Speaker 2 8:06

So yeah , that , that is the reality around that and I think these are some of the lessons , like you rightfully said , that aspiring farmers need to know before they get into like knee deep into um , into farming , and I suppose these are some of the lessons that you had to learn , unfortunately the hard way , but thank goodness you pivoted and you started into Moringa . So for someone who doesn't know what is Moringa Like , what is this ? Because we hear the name , it's a superfood . It's , you know , it's very big in the wellness and health sector . But for somebody who is like , is that a tree , is that a plant ? Is that a vegetable ? What is it before it becomes all

Understanding Moringa's Growth and Benefits

Speaker 2 8:52

those wonderful products that we see on the , on the supermarkets ?

Speaker 1 8:58

Right . So moringa is a tree of life , so they call it the miracle tree or the tree of life . It's a tree that is actually packed with 92 trace elements , minerals , vitamins . It's highly nutritious , and the tree of life is not only about nutrition for human beings . It can also be nutrition for animals , nutrition for the soil , and what I love most about it is that it actually speaks to climate change , right ? So because it's a tree , it speaks to climate change .

Speaker 1 9:32

So within that tree of life , there's so many spinoffs that one can look at . So we at lefagom , for instance , we look at the leaves where we do our net , our products with , and it's it's super packed , right . So that's we do our products with , and it's super packed , so that's why they call it a superfood . It's super packed with nutrition , and what I like about this is that anyone can consume it . So from your low-end consumer to your high-end consumer , and everybody's catered for with this tree of life and giving everybody the maximum benefit that they sort of you know , require to go about with their daily activities . For instance , with the seeds , you can press the seeds and you can do oil . So the spin-off is oil that can go into the marketplace .

Speaker 1 10:13

With the leaves you can do bulk leaf production , bulk powder , do products , and it also gives you a space to be innovative , right , what other products you can do with it . So that's why it's such a big thing . And also with the roots , right . So it's the tap root that actually sort of clean the soil . So , for instance , because we were doing cash crops right , ordinary would be using pesticides , et cetera , right , but now this miracle tree has actually cleaned our soil . When you test it , it literally doesn't have traces of any elements that could be harmful to human beings or to the planet or to the soil . So hence we're actually organically certified by Ecoset . So that's just the little bit about around the tree that's so impressive .

Speaker 2 11:00

So , from the soil all the way to the above ground , it's beneficial for everyone . So how does the growing process sort of happen ? Does it take a long time for the tree to grow ? You said that you were given seedlings , right , so you plant a seedling tree . Can you talk to us about sort of the production side of it ? Um , when you're planting this , this tree ?

Speaker 1 11:28

okay , so I'll just take it back when we then do seedling productions . Um , so we , we , we then do seedling production . You can do it either in your polystyrene trays , your black bags , you know , we actually take it a bit further and say , for those who don't have money to buy those fancy things , you cut your , your cold plastic cold drink bottles . You can use that for years . You know we need to save the planet as well and you can use those plastic bottles to to not to raise your seedlings .

Speaker 1 11:55

So what I love about moringa is that it's one seed , one tree . So you do your media mixing , you put it in those , plant your seed , so when your seed reaches around about 72 centimeter , it's ready to be transplanted into the soil , right , and probably then you'd ordinarily prep the soil so that once you want to transplant , everything is ready . So for the first month after transplanting we do a vigorous watering program , right . So day and night , day and night , we water the trees and then after that , within three months after the first transplant , you can literally have a tree which is half a meter tall and you can start harvesting that , because ordinarily what we need from the tree is its leaves , right so to make products .

Speaker 1 12:42

So that is the critical point is that it's not a tree that takes 10 months or , you know , two years , before one like your oranges , one can see the return on investments or or how it functions , but it's a tree that's got low hanging fruits now , where you can actually start harvesting and starting to produce your product . Yeah , so that's why it's such a nice tree to have , or a nice niche crop you know to farm in , because it gives you that space while you're trying to figure out what you're doing with your product lines . But you can still harvest , you can still store it and move within the space . That's so brilliant .

Speaker 2 13:21

You mentioned that it's a niche crop . Why do you think it's still it's not adapted or adopted , rather , by farmers ? If it's something that is , I'm assuming , low maintenance , easy , what is the barrier that you've seen or you've noticed ? Is it just people don't know , or are they not equipped ? What are some of the issues that it's still in this niche lane ?

Speaker 1 13:51

Okay . So also , it's because people don't know about that . Hence we at the Fakomwe embark on training and workshopping and information sharing with outreach programs as well , so people can understand what it's about . And I think , most important of all , the biggest barrier is the people themselves . Right , people want to go into the farming space , but they don't want to put in the hard work . So these information sharings were very , very clear about what's going to happen once you've planted the tree where you're supposed to be , especially with your mindset . So , uh , people look at people , products in the moringa space and say , oh , this is cute , I can do this , but they don't know what happens behind the scenes , right . So it's very important , yeah , yeah , they don't know what's going on behind the scenes . So it's very important that we come in and say , guys , yes , much is this a niche product and you know these are the spinoffs , but you're going to have to meet us halfway or meet the tree halfway so that you can actually see the low-hanging fruits . And it's very important .

Speaker 1 14:50

Workshopping is very important . Information sharing is important because people can also understand , besides the economical impact of it , the social impact that the tree has , you know , for the communities at large . So that's where the fine line is . But we are also trying to reach out to the people saying come in . We do lots of training with academia at Limpopo University , fsnet , africa . They come in and you know they sponsor people to come in for training for free , because that's also important so we can be able to to to capacitate our communities with what is going on out there . So farming is not only about livestock or crop farming , but it's also . These are the kind of things that people can venture into and make their grades out of it

Scaling Up: Farm Operations and Challenges

Speaker 1 15:36

brilliant .

Speaker 2 15:36

You mentioned something about me people meeting you halfway . What does that mean ? What does that meeting the crop halfway ? What are some of the issues that happen or that actually happened to you during your process , where you're like it's not as easy as just you know planting and getting the product at the end of the day ?

Speaker 1 15:54

yeah , so . So even though the moringa tree is , you know , drought resistant and low maintenance tree , it also needs to be nurtured , right ? So you need to be able to engage in the level that you , you look at your trees . Give yourself time , you know . Look what's going on pest management , disease control , watering . You know what do I need to do ? My leaves are tin yellow . What do I need to bring in ? Do I need to add nitrogen , for instance ? You know things like that .

Speaker 1 16:19

So it's and people don't understand the science and the dynamics around that it's not just a tree you plant . There's this drought resistance . We leave it there . No , you've still got to be able to go out and engage with the trees , you know , in a manner that it's going to be beneficial to you and the trees , right ? So it's an ongoing relationship . I mean , my trees are almost like eight , seven years old , but it's an ongoing relationship that I still have with my trees , still to date .

Speaker 1 16:46

I go out and look what's going on . I talk to my trees as well , you know . Say are they happy , you know ? And we also have to train people around how to maintain the tree , even when harvesting . We need to teach them don't break the branches because we don't want the tree to bleed or be upset . So be gentle with the tree . So you know , it's almost like a baby , right ? Yeah , you've got to feed your baby , you've got to clean your baby , you've got to , you know , handle it with care . So that's how it is with that , with the trees , that's how I , you know , deal with it .

Speaker 2 17:18

I love the fact that you said you like you , even talk to your trees . It's like your little , your children that you've had for eight years . So , speaking of your children , how big is your farm in terms of production ? Wise , you know scale . How many people ? I'm assuming you are employing people , which is really beneficial in this climate . So speak to me about some of those things .

Speaker 1 17:47

Okay , so we sit on a five hectare plot and on the plot we sit well prior to the army boom that hit us in January , we had 7,500 trees . We lost a few trees around about 2,000 trees , but , however , we're busy scaling up right . So next month we'll then we've just done our seedling production . We'll then be transplanting again . But , however , this time we're going to do it smarter . We're actually going to do , on one hectare , 10,000 trees because we're going to do dense farming right . So the trees we plant it close together next to each other . So that will help us with our production , to meet our supply chain , have a stable supply chain , and also that will also help us to have more trees right . So the more trees you plant , you know they'll speak to our climate change issues . They'll also speak to job creation . You know they'll also speak to nutrition as well , because they will have more .

Speaker 1 18:40

You know , to hand out more of the superfood to hand out , I work with the local community community work program through Cocteau Department and the local municipality . So they've given us 10 people that government pays and the spin-off is that we will then train them , mentorship , and we're creating a platform for empowerment and job creation . Yes , because , remember , government's got to tick the boxes of we've created xyz jobs , but where must they place these people ? So the Fakong actually creates a platform where people can come in and be employed . Um , we also have our own people that we've employed six employees that I have from the local village . We also house students who want to be in the crop science space and they come out and they do their bits . Universities pay for their steppans , etc . So you know , we do an integrated system where everybody can benefit from here yeah , wow .

Speaker 2 19:35

I'm so inspired by the work that you do and it's giving me goosebumps because you know the work that you do is so important and it's not . You can see that it's not only about you , but you think of the whole scale and the whole system . So I'm going to ask this question . We just finished Women's Month here in South Africa in August and you are a wonderful woman who is literally breaking barriers and entering some of these spaces . You're a wonderful woman who is literally breaking barriers and entering some of these spaces . So what are some of the challenges that you've had to face in the sector and how did you overcome them ?

Speaker 1 20:11

OK , so the biggest challenge farming has always been known to be predominantly male and white Right . So that was a bit of a challenge a few years ago . But ordinarily , you know , you've got to go beyond the challenges . We can't always have challenges . We've got to spin it in a way that we create opportunities out of the challenges right , and this has given me a challenge of creating opportunities , if I can put it that way .

Speaker 1 20:37

Another challenge we had was funding access to funding , especially when you wanted to scale , and it's been really a difficult journey . So , as a woman with own business , I had to plug into enterprise development programs right , so that I can be able to grow myself and also grow the business , and those have helped me to be funding ready . So again , you know , if you want to run a successful enterprise or business , you've got to look out which way you can network , plug yourself in so it can give you that platform to grow . So , as a result of those ESG projects you know , people like Indalo NetBank have come out , you know , to assist us . We won part of their Sagiya Green Economy Awards and money . With that we were able to buy a teabag machine . That was two years ago . So you know the funding is out there . We are just not knocking on enough doors or we are expecting the funding to come to our laps , and it doesn't work like that . You've got to be out there , recognized and , you know , just be seen . It's not that you're being boastful , but you're trying to grow in a very competitive space . Right , it's all it will always be . But why should we give marble money , not end , you know ? And what has marble brought to the table ?

Speaker 1 21:47

Um , I remember on , in fact , tuesday , I sat with a group of women and they do devil's cloth and we were speaking around challenges

Breaking Barriers as a Woman Farmer

Speaker 1 21:55

and funding and they were telling me how they're struggling and funding and and . And I said you know , guys , when I started this journey , I actually took lots of money from my pocket right to self-fund this enterprise . Hence I can proudly say , even in front of investors this is how far I've come . I'm 80% there . Please can you help me the 20% ? So people are more inclined to listen to you because they can see you're dedicated , the tenacity , the consistency I mean . For seven years flat I've been in the Moringa space and I've never turned back and everything that I do it's within the Moringa space , for instance , the other challenges .

Speaker 1 22:33

If you see your product is not moving , then sell your skill . Train people right for a fee . Consult for people right . Sell your expertise , because that's also how you get to grow and how people get to recognize the work that you do , and they know that you know what you're doing . So that's what I'd say to women let's not depend on handouts or someone's going to come and save me , but be innovative of how you create the platform for your financial needs right , yeah , yeah , brilliant .

Speaker 2 23:02

Innovation is really , really key and you can just see like every single time you're pivoting , you , you're going here , you're doing this , which is absolutely brilliant . You mentioned another very important thing networking and being seen , and , um , you and I know each other because , um , we're part of the gates foundation goalkeepers . You know community here in South Africa , which is absolutely amazing , and we get to network with people in very diverse fields . So talk to me about that . How has that journey been and what type of networks have you formed ? Because you were a gatekeeper from last year , goalkeeper rather 2024 .

Speaker 1 23:46

So here's the thing about networks . Right , I've strategically placed myself in networks where it speaks to women empowerment , it speaks to funding , you know , and , most important of all , it speaks to self-development , because I believe in being in those platforms where I don't want to be surrounded by people who are not going to help me grow , but people who are going to plant good ideas , fresh ideas , and help me to the next level , people for lack of a better word who are much better than me , you know , wherever they are in their journeys and destinies . And I tap into that . I mean simple thing , from last week , after the three days we we had in Staten Bush , I mean my mindset has shifted again . You know , it's pivoted . Now I'm thinking at a different level , right , and I think that is so critical .

Speaker 1 24:33

And I find people often not networking for the correct reasons . Please , when you're out there , look who's in the room , who can you plug into ? Right , for instance , we don't just right , for instance , we don't just go to I don't just go to events . I see what is the event about , who's going to be in the room . If you have the program and you know and say , tell yourself by the end of the event , I would have been spoken to mr so and so he can take me to the next level , right , perhaps he can put me into retail or he can assist me with whatever . So you need to only strategically place yourself to say this is where one where I am and this is where I aspire to be . So you can just pivot , you know , and strategize towards that . So networking is very critical . I mean it determines your network .

Speaker 2 25:10

That is the reality yes , honestly , honestly , it does , it does so , mabuang , what's next ? It's been eight years . You've you mentioned briefly about scaling , so what does that actively mean ? What are some of the projects that you are aspiring to do ? I'd love to hear where we would see you 10 years , five years from now okay .

Speaker 1 25:34

So between now and five years , my , my goal now is to now be big on export , right . Hence we're now scaling up with our 10,000 trees per hectare . We've got our EcoCert , we're organically certified , so that actually attracts overseas buyers , right , your US buyers , your European buyers , based on the EcoCert and being organically certified . In fact , I tell you what I've done a lot of trade shows with the DTIC , citfa and SheTrades , and I've been almost all over the world . And finally , this year , when we got our Ecosert certification in March , I then showed it to the people that are engaged at trade shows , right , and Kuli Kuli Foods from America actually flew in 30th of May into our farm to see our operations all the way from California . So that's how much work I put in , you know .

Speaker 1 26:24

And so for me , right now I'm focusing on exports , but giving them best quality , you know , and good supply chain . So that is my key focus right now . We've also received our first PO for two tons to Germany . We're just trying to see how that first shipment can go . If it goes well , you know , we can ace it and then we can now start , you know , scaling up again . What I'm doing also for the locals is I've got feeder farmers right , so I'm training a few farmers , giving them seeds seedlings ,

Future Plans and Global Expansion

Speaker 1 26:57

we produce the trees . I'll buy back from them all the leaves so that I can then feed it to my supply chain . So it's a whole integrated system where it's a win-win for everybody .

Speaker 2 27:08

Brilliant , brilliant . So you did mention about exporting , so where exactly are your products exported to ?

Speaker 1 27:17

Okay . So in Africa our product sits in Botswana . So I've got two clients who take actually my boutique look my packaged tea bags , powders etc . And I've got a client who just buys from me bulk and they'll repackage in Botswana . Right , we've done Nigeria . In Nigeria I've sold my expertise where a majestic farm has contracted us to then help them do a whole Moringa farm from plant to packet , like we are doing . So I actually consult for that . We've also got Kuli Kuli Foods . We're going to start supplying them from next year , once we scale that we've got enough to supply them . But for now we've got Soty Foods . They're Germany-based and they've just put a PO and next week their produce should be off to shows . So you know we're growing it steady but surely and however I say this with caution , I don't want to be all over the show I want to perfect the clients that I have that I can then start scaling up and moving .

Speaker 2 28:14

Yeah , that's important . That's important because sometimes you can be everywhere and then your product quality starts to deteriorate , so it's good that you have your key suppliers . But this is so brilliant . I learned so much about you and what you do . And I'm sure somebody's sitting there like , wow , I want to be like you know , like my one . So what advice would you have to someone who is aspiring , who might want to now start venturing into a niche market like Moringa or something else ? How should they start ? How could they , you know , get into this ? So I think .

Speaker 1 28:54

First of all , just do research on what is it where you want to be , which spaces you know you want to be in . If you're looking at niche products like Moringa , also critical is where is my produce going to go to ? What am I going to do once I've planted these trees ? How am I going to be able to scale up , plan your things accordingly ? Unfortunately , I started the other way around , but hence I've worked the journey for seven years . I can safely say also consistency , tenacity . Have your eye on the ball . You know to say this is where I want to be , this is where I'm going From 2027 , I always knew I wanted to go to exports .

Speaker 1 29:29

It's taken me almost seven years to try and crack that market and along the way there were a lot of hiccups and you know I had to and barriers that I had to go over . Every time I traveled and to come back , I had homework Literally , I mean every day I've got homework right To say how can I better myself ? Today we're like this , tomorrow we want to be like this and , like you're rightfully saying , five years from now we want to be fully fleshed exporting . Not only that , potentially doing other projects that speak to maternal health , child nutrition and be involved in those spaces , because that's what we're all about , and so then it's a win-win for the community at large and our country at large . So that's what I'd say to an aspiring person .

Speaker 2 30:09

Oh , amazing

Advice for Aspiring Farmers

Speaker 2 30:10

. Thank you so much for chatting with me today . I had such a great time learning about what you do and , honestly , I wish you all of the best . I am definitely going to be a keen watcher of all of the many exciting things that you do . Um , and yeah , please just go and be great and be brilliant and um , it's such an amazing thing that you're doing and so so inspirational .

Speaker 1 30:34

Thank you once again thank you so much and have a lovely day , and thank you very much for everything and peace peace and to everybody else who's tuned in .

Speaker 2 30:45

Thank you for listening to another episode of root of science podcast with your girl and with an e . Until next time , goodbye .