Nomasonto Msibi from Vaal in Gauteng has always known what she wanted and pursued it. When the Covid 19 pandemic hit, it shifted her perspective and showed her that life is not always shaped by what you studied for, but by the opportunities you respond to.
That shift led her into mixed farming, a path she has fully committed to. As the founder of Friendly Farms, she is focused on building a sustainable business with a long-term vision.
Msibi studied marketing and sales management at the Sedibeng TVET college from 2018 to 2019, believing at the time that it was what she needed. When the Covid 19 pandemic hit, that thinking shifted as the priority became putting food on the table.
She initially tried crop production but struggled while relying only on traditional methods. “I started doing more research on agriculture, and that is when I decided to drop out at NQF Level 6 in marketing and pursue agriculture,” she says.
A change in mindset
In 2022, she applied to the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture and completed a diploma in agriculture, specialising in mixed farming.
She now farms on two hectares, producing poultry, sheep, spinach, tomatoes, pumpkin, squash, cabbage and other cash crops.
Msibi says formal training helped strengthen the traditional knowledge she already had. “I no longer focus on planting only two crops for local sales. I now understand how to broaden my market and produce according to market standards.”
Farming was always part of her life, often serving as a safety net during periods of unemployment, as she grew up in a farming household.
She shares that although she used to attend auctions with her father, she never considered farming as a business.
“To me, auctions were just about selling an animal to get money for survival. Obtaining my diploma at the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture helped shift my mindset.”
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From self-funded to NYDA grant
Msibi runs her business on her family’s farmland and says she has always been self-funded, as that was the only option available to her. In 2023, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) visited the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture to offer business training on campus.
“I attended and completed the training. After that, we were given an opportunity to apply for funding from the institution. Luckily, I had already registered my business and was already operating.”
It paid off, and she received R50 000 in funding from the NYDA. “The grant helped me buy stock and assisted with applying for UIF for my employees,” she tells Food For Mzani.
For Msibi, the funding came at a critical time, as she was sometimes struggling to make consistent profits. “My business grew, and I was able to produce up to 500 chickens per cycle for our local abattoir.”
She explains that she purchased 2 000 broiler chicks and feed, as well as a chicken plucker for slaughtering. The remaining funds were used to buy medication such as vaccines and stress-relief packs for the chicks.
Broiler chickens are her main focus due to their efficiency in meat production. She says the structures were already in place, with five poultry houses that can accommodate up to 2 500 birds.
Her market includes the local community, flea markets, door-to-door deliveries and direct bulk sales to customers. “What works for me is being a reliable supplier, especially in an industry with a lot of competition. Maintaining quality is our priority,” she says.
“People rely on us for fresh meat, vegetables and the basic service of food security.”
Building towards larger markets
Msibi says that with the support of her parents, the farm continues to operate in her absence. This year, she started volunteering at a school of agriculture at Tshepong Secondary School in the Vaal, under the Sedibeng District.
“I am at the school from 7 am to 3 pm, and the afternoons are dedicated to my business.”
In addition to poultry and crops, Msibi keeps livestock. She has nine Merino sheep aged between two and three years, five that are 10 months old, and three newborn lambs, bringing the total to 17. She also owns three Jersey-Angus cross bulls.
“I chose these breeds because of the meat quality, strong genetics and wool,” she says. “We are able to sell sheep in three ways: meat, wool and pelts, which allows for better profitability.”
She adds that she is looking to expand her herd but faces challenges in meeting growing demand. “People want to buy in larger numbers, and many trust my produce, but at the moment I cannot maintain the quantities the market requires.”
Msibi also completed practical training with one of the largest mutton producers in the Free State, Lee Meat, between Deneysville and Oranjeville.
“The practicals focused on lamb feedlot production. I have an opportunity to supply them, but only if I can sustain the volume of lambs they require on a weekly basis,” she says.
As Msibi keeps learning and Friendly Farms expands its reach, she remains a beacon for young entrepreneurs, demonstrating that agriculture is not just about survival; it is a sophisticated, scalable business.
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