Crop farmer motivated by his clients’ joy to work hard
Geoffrey Shekupe is a thriving full-time commercial crop farmer in the Tsintsabis area of the Tsumeb district .
His farming journey started after having a deep conversation about farming with his stepfather, who is a farmer.
Subsequently he engaged farmers in various agri-businesses to inquire how they managed their businesses.
He was so encouraged that he decided to pursue farming, and approached Agribank for a farmland purchase loan.
According to Agribank, after a few months of due diligence his application was approved.
“I hope Agribank continues to finance those seeking financial assistance, the same way that they financed my agribusiness," says Shekupe.
He currently employs 35 workers and produces maize, butternuts, green peppers, tomatoes, cabbage and watermelons on half a hectare each. He also owns a few head of livestock.
As for character building, Shekupe says farming has contributed significantly to his joy and peace of mind.
“The challenges I have experienced during my farming journey were using my own capital to drill boreholes, buying seeds and insufficient rain. Insufficient rain made it challenging, especially for the rangeland where livestock graze,” he says.
Shekupe further said that his first harvest of tomatoes was his best experience in agri-business. It was a bumper harvest.
The pure joy of taking his produce to town to sell also motivates him to work harder.
Shekupe says he is working hard towards his long-term goals, which include expanding his agri-business by employing 100 people and supplying his produce to the entire country.
“I encourage the youth to pursue farming. The current farmers are not able to feed the entire country, so we need the youth to join hands with us to produce more food for our people.”
His farming journey started after having a deep conversation about farming with his stepfather, who is a farmer.
Subsequently he engaged farmers in various agri-businesses to inquire how they managed their businesses.
He was so encouraged that he decided to pursue farming, and approached Agribank for a farmland purchase loan.
According to Agribank, after a few months of due diligence his application was approved.
“I hope Agribank continues to finance those seeking financial assistance, the same way that they financed my agribusiness," says Shekupe.
He currently employs 35 workers and produces maize, butternuts, green peppers, tomatoes, cabbage and watermelons on half a hectare each. He also owns a few head of livestock.
As for character building, Shekupe says farming has contributed significantly to his joy and peace of mind.
“The challenges I have experienced during my farming journey were using my own capital to drill boreholes, buying seeds and insufficient rain. Insufficient rain made it challenging, especially for the rangeland where livestock graze,” he says.
Shekupe further said that his first harvest of tomatoes was his best experience in agri-business. It was a bumper harvest.
The pure joy of taking his produce to town to sell also motivates him to work harder.
Shekupe says he is working hard towards his long-term goals, which include expanding his agri-business by employing 100 people and supplying his produce to the entire country.
“I encourage the youth to pursue farming. The current farmers are not able to feed the entire country, so we need the youth to join hands with us to produce more food for our people.”
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Namibian Sun
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