There is nothing that ignites Cape Town farmer Nomfundo Cima’s fire more than agriculture. Growing fresh produce in her Blue Downs garden is empowering and an act of good that goes well beyond her own plate. She believes that urban agriculture can be beneficial to the health and well-being of her community.
From planting her seeds to harvesting, everything about growing food completely fascinates Cima. “Why go to the store when you can create for yourself?” she asks.
She started her gardening business in 2020, and grows a wide variety of vegetables and herbs, including beetroot, spring onions, kale, spinach, rosemary, thyme, and celery. Her produce is sold to local restaurants, caterers, Papa Joy butchery, a Shoprite in Mfuleni and a few other retailers.
“So far, consumer reviews of my crops have been positive, which has made me happy. Some people don’t believe me when I say that I cultivate very nutritious food in a relatively small space.”
‘Never miss the opportunity to learn’
When Cima finished high school, she tried to find work but was unsuccessful in her pursuit.
She was born in Mount Fletcher in the Eastern Cape, and is the sixth of eight children. She says that having to live within a large family with fewer resources when her father died was difficult, but she learned a lot from it.
“Things such as the significance of sharing and an appreciation for the fact that we all have unique personalities. If we all share our abilities, we can make South Africa a highly unified and poverty-free nation,” she says.
Cima had always dreamt of becoming a farmer and in September 2020 she finally got the chance to learn the tricks of the trade through Abalimi Bezekhaya.
She has also done a few courses in agripreneurship through Afrika Tikkun, a Cape Town-based youth development organisation, which stoked her fire for farming even more.
As a young farmer with little experience, she believes that it is important to grab learning opportunities wherever you can, as it is easier to be rejected in your pursuit for funding. “I envision a world where all elementary school children are exposed to farming practices at a young age, allowing them to produce their own food before high school graduation.
“This may assist to reduce unemployment and crime in South Africa by reducing the number of people going hungry.”
Cima says that the nation as a whole has to be healed, and rescued from its perpetual state of poverty and limited opportunities. She adds that she has no regrets in her dream to become a farmer and believes that agriculture is one of the most important industries Mzansi.
‘Every step worth the challenge’
Starting her garden from scratch forced Cima to learn the fundamentals. “Understanding the market, how to combat pesticides, and how to create your own fertilisers are all essential skills for every farmer.”
She adds that inadequate soil preparation, the need to distinguish between plants that need sunlight and those that don’t, insufficient watering and overwatering, and an inability to grasp seasonal crop cycles are just some of obstacles she had to overcome.
Cima says it’s simple to save effort by knowing what to plant and when so that you won’t ever regret getting started.
“Farmers encounter a number of challenges; farming is not as easy as it may first seem. When starting a garden, you should be physically and psychologically prepared to put in long hours.”
Aspiring to grow commercially
Knowing your market is one of the most essential lessons Cima learned during her time at Afrika Tikkun. While you may get excited to see your first harvest pulled out of the soil, it is important to think about where and how your produce will find its place in the markets.
Doing your research before you sow your seeds is important, she advises. As a result of her newfound knowledge, she is able to save money by reusing food scraps to make her own fertiliser.
Currently, she is an assistant facilitator in the agriculture programme at Afrika Tikkun, where she hopes to one day get additional land to cultivate a wide range of crops while also providing training for others to learn the trade.
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