When Nobuntu Nose from Mthimbini in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape embarked on her farming journey, she did not have it easy. From failed harvests and land politics to balancing farming while working as a full-time teacher, she encountered hard times. But she did not take it lying down and turned every challenge into a lesson.
Nose always knew she wanted to pursue agricultural studies. The passion was sparked during her high school with agriculture as one of her subjects.
After matriculation, she attended Fort Hare University from 2008 to 2012 and earned a BSc in agricultural economics, followed by an honours degree.
Discovering farming’s business potential
While working as a sales intern at Dicla Trainings and Projects in Queenstown, Eastern Cape, Nose discovered the real potential for earning from farming.
“That’s how the drive to start a business began,” she explains.
However, realising she needed capital to start farming, Nose decided to pursue a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) at Walter Sisulu University in Queenstown in 2016. Teachers were in high demand in the Eastern Cape at that time, and she thought it would be a good way for her to earn money and save towards her agricultural dream.
In 2017, she secured a position as a high school teacher, where she taught agricultural management practices at Arthur Mfebe Agricultural School in Cofimvaba.
Learning the hard way
After having saved up some money, Nose started her farming business by leasing one hectare of land in Qamata, Cofimvaba where she planted lucerne. However, due to poor management, the lucerne did not germinate, resulting in losses from tractor rental, land leasing, fertiliser, and seed costs.
Towards the end of the year, she switched to planting green maize on half a hectare. With the help of her mother, Nokhumshile, the quality of the harvest improved.
She explains that she sent the maize to Cape Town, where she had many customers who bought it to resell.
“We usually pack the maize in sacks, wrap them, and send them by long-distance taxis to our clients in Cape Town.”
Never-ending challenges
In 2019, Nose decided to plant cabbage and moved to a new location due to communal politics. She leased another patch of land in one of the Qamata areas and set up an irrigation system.
Unfortunately, she faced more setbacks that year. One of the workers forgot to close the tap during a three-day rainstorm. “After three days of rain and continuous irrigation, the cabbage was essentially swimming in water.”
This combination led to more losses, Nose adds.
She already had a market lined up and the cabbage was almost ready for harvest. However, the deep slope of the farm made it difficult to drain the excess water.
“When the sun eventually came out, the cabbage roots were saturated and began to rot,” she explains with a deep sigh.
Successful lockdown sales
On 9 January 2020, Nose planted green maize and cabbage again.
“The advantage was that I was farming near the road, so the product marketed itself,” she says.
During the lockdown, Nose successfully sold maize and cabbage, making a substantial profit. Her clientele extended as far as people from Gqeberha coming to Cofimvaba.
“I bought a bakkie back in 2018, and with my 2020 sales, I managed to settle the balance.”
According to Nose, green maize and cabbage are profitable and not as labour-intensive as spinach.
In 2021, she planted cabbage again but had to go to Pretoria to mark exams, which led to some business losses, again. Community politics affected her farm, and people from the local community allowed their livestock to graze on her crops.
“When I came back, the farm was clean. I was demotivated and decided to take a break.”
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Cultivating consistency
In 2023, she made a comeback, leasing a different property where she planted cabbages. The crop thrived, producing high-quality yields.
“I always ensure that I have cabbage available, unlike green maize, which is seasonal,” she explains.
She maintains a continuous planting schedule for cabbage to ensure a steady supply and consistent cash flow. Her customer base extends across Cofimvaba, Tsomo, Queenstown, Cacadu, and Mthatha.
She serves informal markets, supplying to street vendors and local shops, as well as larger retailers like Spar in Cacadu, Evergreen Supermarket in Cofimvaba, and small businesses in the surrounding villages.
Despite challenges such as water scarcity, Nose’s business remains stable.
She adds, “We rely on water from the Lubisi Dam, with no alternative sources available.”
Although she faced many challenges and briefly considered giving up farming, Nose says financial difficulties in 2022 made her reconsider.
“Despite the setbacks, I remembered that farming wasn’t a bad idea after all. When the harvest does well, it can be quite profitable.”
She took these lessons to heart and used them as motivation to continue. Nose emphasises that effective farm management is essential, especially if you have a 9-to-5 job. Hiring someone knowledgeable in farm management is crucial; otherwise, financial losses will persist.
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