In this episode of our Farmer Mentor podcast on Farmer’s Inside Track, Lumka Digashu shares how she went from planting cabbages on less than 200 hectres to farming on over 2 000 hectares of land in two different provinces. And she’s not done expanding.
On over 2 000 hectares of land spread between the fertile lands of the Eastern Cape and rolling hills of KwaZulu-Natal, Lumka Digashu is living her best life.
Cultivating a diverse range of crops, including yellow maize, sugar beans, cabbages, spinach, and potatoes, is proof that Digashu knows a thing or two about farm diversification. She does this on 260 hectares in both provinces.
Her success, she admits, lies in smart business moves and grabbing hold of every opportunity that presents itself. Over the years, companies have always approached her to plant specific crops for them.
Taking chances
“Initially I started with cabbages, which did very well. Then I had an opportunity where I got funding to plant yellow maize. I knew nothing about yellow maize. Then I was introduced by another organisation to sugar beans. I saw how well that went and I ran with that as well.
“It has always just been opportunity. I never intended to plant these crops. It started with one crop and mushroomed to what I have now.”
In addition to crop farming, she manages an impressive Bonsmara cattle herd. Beyond this, Digashu also leases a substantial 1 800 hectares of land. She dedicates 5 hectares to cultivating umhlonyana (a medicinal plant also known as artemisia afra), which is processed into a juice she calls pondo juice.
Always ready for the next move
This first-generation farmer, who was raised by teachers, says farming on over 2 000 hectares requires a knack for business management and a solid marketing strategy among others.
Managing a variety of crops can be tricky but Digashu has a few tricks up her sleeve, which includes a supportive husband who loves agriculture as much as she does.
“I’m lucky to have a partner that supports my dream. If [I’m] on the one farm, [he is] on the other side.
“We make mistakes. We make a lot of mistakes especially because we farm in different areas. But crop rotation helps a lot,” she shares.
Digashu explains that in Kokstad the window to plant cabbages is from August which means harvesting is between November and December.
“Cabbages are my cash crops… The prices then are very low which is why I plant around January towards March when the produce is scarce, and we get a little more money.”
Digashu is innovative and a forward-thinker. Some of the innovative business strategies that she has implemented include introducing a Bonsmara cattle herd into her farming profile.
If that’s not enough to impress you, she is also in the process of acquiring 10 000 layers. In the podcast episode, she shares more of her secrets to success.
Want to know more? Listen to the full episode of Farmer’s Inside Track.
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Option 3: Click here to listen on Google Podcast.
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