Relebohile is an Agri-preneur running multiple businesses in the agricultural industry. She is the brain behind Morali'a Monethi Farm brand.
Startup Story
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Relebohile Monethi. The eldest daughter of three girls to Rapotso and 'Marelebohile Monethi. I am a mother to a three year old gorgeous boy named Bohlokoa. I became a farmer in 2015 when I could not complete my final year of B Com Statistics at the University of the Free State. My mother raised us with chickens, diving into that industry was second nature to me.
What does your business do?
Morali'a Monethi Farms is an agribusiness founded on rearing chickens on a small scale. To date, the business has evolved from starting a food cafe that had a kids corner/library for primary students, processing smoothies and seamoss as well as invest heavily in organic products that aid good health and nutrition.
Who are you targeting with your customers?
The obvious answer would be to say the "health conscious". Yet how can one be conscious if they are not educated or enlightened on the matter. We aim to educate as many people as we can with our health products, those become our target market.
What inspired you to start the business?
Failure was not an option for me, atleast not wallowing in it. The failure to acquire my degree was painful but I found incredible joy and fulfillment in agriculture. The smell of the soil in the morning. Watching a day old chick grow from day one to full maturity, planting a seedling and harvesting good fresh produce, that is my passion to date.
Can you tell us more about your entrepreneurial journey?
My journey has been one of priceless lessons. At the height of great profits in 2019/2020, Covid-19 hit and I found myself in incredible business debt. I did all I knew how to do to remedy the situation but it kept getting worse. Finally mid 2020, I took a step back, shut everything down and retreated to my grandmother's house. It was incredibly humbling, painful and shocking. I was used to being busy and making things happen. To completely shut down was a shock. A needed one because the organisational structure of the business was very shaky and I did not know until the pandemic hit and I realised how unprepared I was. Yet as with many entrepreneurs, giving up is not in our making. I have since dismantled the business and rebuild it again. I have undergone financial training, organisational building programs and intense investment in myself through courses, books and mentorship.
What challenges have you faced in your entrepreneurial journey
The loss of the kids corner hit me hard. I love literature and the freedom it affords children. I grew up reading C. S lewis, I had an array of books and teaching booklets for primary students. With all the challenges I have had, my motivation is to see the kids corner reopened bigger and better.
What are your future goals for your business?
The goal is to export organically produced and processed Morali'a Monethi Farms products. We have a good product line that just needs further financial backing to solidify in terms of being export ready.
What is most fulfilling to you about being an entrepreneur?
I love what I do. I truly do. I had to try many things to find those I was averagely good at, those I tolerated and those I truly loved and did with ease. I am incredibly gifted with animals and getting my hands in the soil. I have taken a step away from cooking and catering intensely simply because they do not come as easily as the organic nature of agriculture. I love waking up to the smell of soil, to walk into a chicken house and begin speaking or singing to chickens.
Any advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs?
Get the ground work done. What do I mean? Do intense research on the industry you desire to enter, structure every aspect of the business as well as contingency plans for various unforeseeable circumstances. One thing I have learned is, money does not care about your problems. It does not care that your parent died or that you are a good person. It comes to those it is comfortable with.
Contact Details:
+266 63161929
Instagram : @moraliamonethifarms
@relebohilemonethi
Linkin: Relebohile Monethi
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