Mgcini Mbooi’s journey from uncertainty to agricultural ambition began in Mtshekelweni village, Flagstaff in the Eastern Cape. After matriculating, he stood at a crossroads, realising that a high school certificate alone wouldn’t unlock the future he envisioned. With no formal training and few resources, he turned hope and determination into action.
In 2015, Mbooi founded Godide Creativity — a small-scale mixed farming venture. However starting was far harder than he imagined. Farming on one hectare of land at his home, he grows cabbage, spinach, potatoes, yellow onions, butternut, green maize, sweet potatoes, and green peppers.
To support his vision, Mbooi used local resources. With his village near the forest, he created employment by collecting firewood, especially in high-demand holiday periods for rituals and traditional activities.
From his earnings, he managed to fence a portion of the land he now farms. With just R200, he bought potato, maize, spinach, and cabbage seeds. That’s how his farming business, Godide Creativity, came to life.
“With my first harvest, I saved to fence the remaining portion. I had no traditional or formal knowledge about farming, although I grew up seeing people grow their own food. I’ve learned by asking and using others’ experiences to guide mine.”
To increase his knowledge in agriculture, Mbooi approached the Ingquza Hill Municipality’s department of agriculture in 2016, requesting training. His request, along with that of five other local farmers, was approved, and they were provided with crop farming training.
Success against all odds
Despite his progress, water scarcity remains one of Mbooi’s biggest challenges, with no rivers or dams nearby. Since he started farming, every harvest has come with some level of wastage.
“I remember one time I planted 2 000 spinach seedlings but only managed to harvest 50.”
Determined to find a solution, he bought a water tank in 2016, as the nearest river is about 5 km away. “Not having a car is another challenge. I have to pay to get water delivered to my farm,” he says.
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His efforts soon gained support. In 2017, the Ingquza Hill department of agriculture provided him with an additional water tank. Through his savings, he was able to buy two more tanks in 2018.
“Even with four water tanks, water remains the biggest challenge. I only have enough when it rains. When the tanks run out, I either face losses or have to pay for water.”
Diversifying his farm
In 2019, his learning journey continued when the local agriculture department offered a mixed farming course, primarily focused on livestock farming.
As his business grew, so did his ambitions. In 2017, a friend gifted Mbooi a pig, marking the start of his venture into livestock. Wanting to improve the breed, he added one Landrace and one Large White to his stock.
He quickly saw an opportunity in pig farming. “I was selling piglets to other farmers and people looking to have domestic animals,” he says.
The profits from this venture allowed him to diversify even further. He bought one sheep and one cow, with hopes of adding goats in the future.
However, expansion brought new challenges. “I do not have enough land, so space is another challenge when expanding my business.”
Despite limited space, Mbooi experimented with different crops. He successfully grew groundnuts and strawberries but ultimately focused on vegetables in high demand within his community.
Today, he primarily supplies street vendors in Flagstaff town and the community of Mtshekelweni. In 2022, recognising his need for more space for livestock, he sold all his pigs and repurposed the pig structure for other animals.
“Although I own one cow, I am taking care of someone’s cows too. This helps me understand the livestock business practically,” he says.
Dreams to expand mixed farming business
Looking ahead, Mbooi knows that addressing water scarcity will be crucial for reaching his goals. He dreams of drilling a borehole to provide a stable water solution, but the cost remains a significant hurdle.
“These are needs I don’t see achieving anytime soon. Any irrigation system is expensive.” He adds, “And a car is expensive too.”
Despite these obstacles, his vision remains clear. If land and water weren’t a challenge, Mbooi says he would explore every possible opportunity in farming.
His love for livestock grows daily. He also considers adding fruit production, but limited space continues to stand in his way.
Mbooi’s five-year plan is filled with ambition. He hopes to deliver fresh produce door-to-door, helping his community save money by sourcing locally grown food. He also aims to train others to start their own food gardens and dreams of one day producing goods on a national scale.
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