At just 32, Nkopane Nkopane stands as one of Lesotho’s most promising wool producers—a young man who turned a family tradition into a thriving legacy.
Raised in the hills of Hloahloeng, Mohale’s Hoek, Nkopane’s story is a testament to the power of purpose, inheritance, and passion-driven work.
When many of his peers were drifting into unemployment, he made an unusual choice—he dropped the pen of academia and picked up the reins of rural wisdom passed down by his father.
In 2015, while the country wrestled with a youth unemployment crisis, Nkopane found clarity in the flock of 60 sheep that his father had long tended.
Rather than pursuing further formal education after supplementing his LGCSE in Maseru, he returned home and committed himself to being mentored by his father.
“I chose to become his student and learn more about life. I had seen too many young people lost in the city. It took some time but I finally realised the treasures I had been raised around all this time. I needed to go back to the roots and reinvent myself,” he recalls.
Armed with the literacy and numeracy skills from high school, Nkopane became an asset to his father’s operation—handling flock management, logistics, and bookkeeping.
His efforts were rewarded with one sheep at a time.
“That slow but steady reward system became the foundation of my empire. Today, I own 70 purebred Merino sheep, all of high wool quality, a refined selection from a flock that once reached 200,” he beams.
This year, at a small stock show held in Qacha’s Nek, Nkopane’s breeding excellence dazzled judges and attendees alike.
His fine wool ewe won “Ewe of the Year,” taking first prize in the Best Ewe category, and his ram also claimed first in the Best Ram for fine wool.
But for Nkopane, this competition holds a deeper meaning—it was his first since his father’s passing in January 2025.
“I know he would be proud of me and this victory, but I know he is proud, wherever he is. This legacy is not just mine; it’s our family’s heritage,” he says.
Becoming a father himself has only deepened his sense of responsibility saying being a ram breeder gave him the confidence to take grown-man steps.
“…getting married, becoming a father, expanding the business—because I know I can provide. Farming gave me that confidence and more.”
He says he is determined to challenge cultural norms that restrict women’s involvement in agriculture by involving more women as employees in his business.
“I want to combat ideas like ‘ngoana oa ngoanana ha a hate ka sakeng’—(a girl child doesn’t belong in the kraal). Women must claim space in the wool and mohair production. They are as capable as their male counterparts.”
While most of his current apprentices are young men, he notes that many of his buyers are women, and he’s hopeful more will join the field hands-on.
His journey began with a single sheep as a token of appreciation for his hard work, but he says his vision has always stretched far beyond numbers.
