From Surplus Vegetables to Regional Enterprise: Makutloano Majoro’s Journey in Lesotho

Lesotho faces a deepening youth unemployment crisis, officially declared a state of emergency. Many graduates find themselves caught between qualifications and a lack of job opportunities. Yet, in Teyateyaneng, Makutloano Majoro, 30, has turned adversity into opportunity.

After earning a diploma in Public Administration from LIPAM College, Majoro struggled to secure employment in 2023. Frustrated by repeated setbacks, she turned to her family garden, which produced tomatoes, chilies, and green peppers that often went unused. Using food preservation skills learned from her mother, she began bottling and drying surplus produce.

What began as a way to reduce household expenses quickly became a small business as neighbours returned for more. Her initiative marked the foundation of Food Fantasy, a brand that grew from her kitchen into a structured enterprise.

Majoro’s first major breakthrough came when organisations like World Vision began buying her products in bulk. She realised her work was not just about supplementing household income but creating a scalable business capable of supporting others and strengthening Lesotho’s agricultural value chain.

To expand her knowledge, Majoro attended workshops through Boreba Training and Vision Training Africa. She invested in formal learning, enhancing the preservation skills inherited from her mother and learning strategies to scale her business. Her diploma in Public Administration proved critical in structuring operations, managing resources, and making strategic decisions.

Joining the Sebabatso Initiative further accelerated her growth. She gained practical insights in pricing, marketing, bookkeeping, and business management. Prize money from the program allowed her to purchase a laptop and a large drying machine, increasing production capacity.

Operating from her family home, Majoro has employed one permanent staff member and eight temporary workers. She has expanded her product range to include herbed atchar and other offerings, promoting both flavour and health. She emphasises responsible entrepreneurship, viewing her business as a tool to benefit communities as well as generate income.

Her participation in the CAFI Cohort provided further training and financial support, enabling her to begin constructing a two-room manufacturing facility. The dedicated space allows larger-scale production, more staff, and distribution across multiple districts.

Today, Food Fantasy products are available in stores in Berea, Mokhotlong, Butha-Buthe, and Maputsoe in Leribe. Despite challenges, such as limited local tomato and pepper production that forces reliance on South African supplies, Majoro remains committed to growth.

Her advice to Basotho youth is clear: start with what you have. Even small gardens, home skills, and determination can create opportunities where formal employment is scarce. Majoro’s journey demonstrates that creativity, persistence, and action can turn modest resources into thriving enterprises, inspiring a generation to carve their own paths.