Fired up for farming: Sethembile sets the stage for success

Sethembile Nxele, a driven and resourceful young farmer, is making her mark in the agricultural world. Born and raised in uMhlathuze, a village near Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal, Nxele’s journey began with a love for gardening nurtured by her single mother.

Reflecting on her childhood, she fondly recalls selling vegetables door-to-door from her mother’s garden.

“My mother passed away a long time ago, but her garden at home planted the seed of agriculture in me,” she says.

Today, Nxele is the proud founder of Gotta Be Rich Farming, which specialises in crop production, agroforestry, and her signature product – Ilangabi Chilli Sauce.

The heat is on

Nxele’s chilli sauce, aptly named Ilangabi, meaning “the wave of fire”, is her flagship product.

“I love chilli,” she says with a laugh. “I used to make it for myself, and friends would taste it and ask for more. So, I decided, I’m going to sell it.”

Starting with local restaurants, shisanyamas and food spots, she built her market by offering product samples and engaging directly with managers and owners.

Apart from chillies, her farm produces a variety of vegetables, including spinach and onions, as well as oyster mushrooms, which she began cultivating last year.

Operating on half a hectare of municipal land and her backyard, she combines resourcefulness and determination to maximise her output.

No challenge too big

Like many small-scale farmers, Nxele faces challenges, particularly the lack of equipment and secure land ownership.

“When I have a high demand for orders, I can’t produce on time because I don’t have the equipment,” she explains.

Sethembile Nxele makes the most out of half a hectare of government-owned communal land.
Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

The limitations of her small kitchen also pose difficulties, but she remains resilient, using the resources she has while dreaming of owning her own farm and a warehouse.

Her creativity extends beyond farming; she designs her product packaging herself. “I taught myself graphic design,” she says. “I designed the stickers for my products and my logo. It’s pure talent and necessity.”

Leading and mentoring the youth

After completing high school, Nxele pursued a management assistant diploma and later earned a certificate in crop farming. These qualifications, combined with her retail management experience, have been instrumental in running her farming business effectively.

“The assistant management diploma has helped me in so many ways because the job I was doing in retail taught me skills that I now apply to my farming business,” she explains.

Nxele’s leadership extends beyond her farm. As chairperson of the KZN Youth in Agriculture and Rural Development (KZN Yard), she mentors young people, providing them with essential skills and connecting them to funding opportunities. “If you just like the idea of farming but don’t know where to start, we provide the skills you need,” she says.

Her dedication to youth development also includes facilitating learnerships in partnership with the department of agriculture, ensuring that aspiring farmers gain practical experience and financial support to launch their careers.

Vision for the future

Nxele envisions a future where she owns a farm and a warehouse to process and distribute her products. “I don’t want to sell my products in retail stores. I want to have my sellers in every province, creating jobs for unemployed people,” she shares.

For aspiring farmers, her advice is straightforward yet impactful: “Don’t be afraid to try. Start with what you have. If you want to raise livestock, start with two chickens. If you want to plant vegetables, begin with ten spinach seeds. You don’t need a lot of money to start.”

This mindset has carried Nxele through her journey, keeping her focused on her purpose. “I remember why I started,” she says. “There are times you want to give up, but I’ve come too far to quit now.”