…from fighting poverty and crime to creating jobs and feeding communities
Mohloai Mpesi
LONG before businessman and philanthropist, Mohopoli Monokoane, became the elected Member of Parliament for Peka, he had already begun planting seeds of change in the constituency.
Back in 2022, before voters entrusted him with representing them in Parliament, the founder of Hippo Transport was deeply troubled by the levels of poverty, unemployment and crime devastating communities in Leribe, especially in his Peka constituency.
Young people were roaming the streets without jobs, families struggled to put food on the table, and many fields lay abandoned and unproductive.
Instead of making promises, Mr Monokoane took action.
Out of that concern was born Peka Fresh Produce, an ambitious agricultural project that has since transformed into a beacon of hope for hundreds of families in the area.
Today, the sprawling farm produces vegetables, maize, sorghum, fish, chickens, sheep and cattle, while a rapidly growing apple orchard promises even greater harvests in the near future.
More importantly, the project is changing lives.
There is a popular saying that “teaching a man to fish is better than giving him a fish.” Mr Monokoane appears to have embraced this philosophy wholeheartedly. Rather than simply handing out donations, he has created opportunities for vulnerable people to work, earn an income and regain their dignity.
The project employs more than 20 workers directly, while many others benefit indirectly through partnerships with the farm. Some community members lease out their fields for production, while street vendors buy vegetables at subsidised prices and resell them for profit in towns across the country.
When the Lesotho Times crew visited the farm this week, workers were scattered across the vast property, busy tending livestock, irrigating crops and constructing infrastructure. Operations flowed smoothly even in the absence of Mr Monokoane himself — a sign that the project has grown into a sustainable enterprise capable of running independently.
Farm manager, Seephephe Matete, said the initiative was inspired by the dire social conditions in Peka.
“The project started in 2022 because there was high unemployment and poverty in the area,” Mr Matete explained.
“There were many idle youths who would end up resorting to theft and joining criminal groups. Mr Monokoane started identifying fields to buy and others he partnered with owners to cultivate. The goal was to alleviate poverty.”
At the heart of the operation is a sophisticated greenhouse stretching 100 metres long and 36 metres wide, equipped with automated irrigation systems and shade nets. The greenhouse accommodates about 9000 crops, including tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers.
Outside the greenhouse, six hectares are dedicated to cabbage, spinach, rape and other vegetables.
Recognising the need for reliable water supply, the farm also constructed massive reservoirs capable of storing millions of litres of water. One of the dams now doubles as a fish farming project after the farm imported Common Carp fish from South Africa.
The produce from the farm now reaches far beyond Peka.
Vendors from Maseru, Maputsoe, Teyateyaneng and Botha-Bothe regularly travel to the farm to buy vegetables at affordable prices and resell them. The project has also supplied major retail outlets in Mafeteng and Mohale’s Hoek.
Despite its growth, Mr Monokoane has not abandoned the charitable spirit that inspired the project.
On Sundays, the farm donates vegetables, chickens and other produce to randomly selected churches within the constituency.
“Our mandate is to help people. Sometimes we give churches chickens and vegetables. We want people to have hope and feel supported,” Mr Matete said.
The generosity extends beyond churches.
According to Mr Matete, Mr Monokoane has frequently donated livestock to grieving families during funerals, while elderly residents are often invited to social gatherings where they receive clothing, food and gifts.
“He has brought hope to old people. We recently donated 103 sheep to families whose homes were blown away by storms,” he said.
The project has also become a refuge for troubled youths.
Mr Matete admitted that some workers were previously involved in delinquent behaviour, but employment at the farm has helped redirect their lives.
“It is better to keep them here working than allow them to return to crime,” he said.
Some youths now buy subsidised milk from the farm to bake scones for resale, allowing them to start small businesses of their own.
Workers themselves speak passionately about the impact the project has had on their lives.
Rethabile Mofana, who cares for sheep and cattle, said the opportunity has strengthened his love for livestock while providing him with stable employment.
“I am happy and satisfied working here and contributing to the growth of the farm,” he said.
Another employee, Tšepo Mokatile, described Mr Monokoane as “the best boss”.
“I enjoy working here,” he said while helping construct stairs to a new dam.
Meanwhile, the farm continues expanding. A five-hectare orchard containing 11 500 apple trees is expected to begin producing fruit within the next two years, while plans are underway to introduce Tilapia fish farming and increase food processing capacity.
Already, excess tomatoes and vegetables are processed into chutneys, jams and achar to minimise waste and create additional products for the market.
For many residents, however, the greatest harvest is not measured in vegetables or profits — but in dignity, employment and restored hope.
At a time when many communities battle rising unemployment and hopelessness, the Peka Fresh Produce project stands as a rare example of how agriculture, compassion and community empowerment can work hand in hand to rebuild lives.
Beyond Peka, Mr Monokoane has also expanded his agricultural empowerment programme to Maputsoe through a block farming initiative. Under the arrangement, he ploughed community fields free of charge, with the harvest to be shared among field owners.
Residents say the initiative has revived long-abandoned farmland and restored hope to struggling families.
“This partnership is going to bring a big change to our lives. There will never be hunger and starvation again,” said Thabo Tšolo.
Another resident, Tholang Letuka, said many of the fields had not been cultivated since the early 1990s.
“We last saw something like this during the reign of (former Prime Minister) Chief (Jonathan) Leabua (1965 to 1986),” Mr Letuka said.
