Harry Shikweni from Tzaneen, Limpopo, spent 20 years working as a welder in his hometown until a tragic accident changed everything and left him with a disability. However, that did not hold him back. When he realised he could still use his other hand to grow food, farming as a business became a real option.
For years, he saw farming as something simple. Grow food in your garden, eat fresh, and that was it. Life, however, had other plans. The disability made him see things differently. He realised that even small-scale farming could become a business if you put your mind to it.
Today, he’s growing crops in his backyard and looking to do more.
Blending tradition with training
Shikweni grows spinach, cabbage, tomatoes, beetroot, okra, and butternut on 1.5 hectares in his backyard in Tzaneen, drawing from both customary practices and structured crop production skills.
He started farming about two years ago after struggling to find a job because of his disability.
“Growing food in rural areas feels simple, but formal training helps when old ways don’t work or bring challenges,” he says.
He used his disability grant to start farming after taking a basic vegetable course at Buhle Farmers Academy in Mpumalanga in 2022. The course taught him about crop rotation, soil types, weeding, watering, and how to make compost at home.
Then, in 2023, he joined a one-year course at the Professional Career Development College in Tshwane.
There, he learned about market strategies, both informal and formal, when to harvest, how to handle crops after harvest, managing pests and diseases, and agroprocessing. All this pushed him to take his farming seriously and grow his business.
Related stories
- Urban roots: Akhona’s rise from jobless to thriving rooftop farmer
- Kealeboga and Lesego plant dreams and grow a movement
Farming in the Limpopo heat
Summers in Limpopo are very hot, making it hard to grow crops like lettuce and Brussels sprouts. However, with the help of nets, he manages to grow some.
He’s also invested in drip irrigation from his own pocket, which he says has made a big difference. “In places like Limpopo, where it gets extremely hot, drip irrigation makes it possible to farm throughout the year,” says Shikweni.
“Even when rain doesn’t come, I know my plants will still survive because water goes straight to the roots.”
Harry Shikweni
To manage pests, Shikweni combines traditional methods like homemade remedies with agrochemicals.
“But using chemicals requires careful attention,” he says. “You need to know when you sprayed and when it’s safe to harvest. Some chemicals can be poisonous – you don’t want to put your customers at risk.”
Shikweni’s business serves the needs of his community, adapting to whatever is in demand, he explains. Sales are highest at the end of the month. Keeping records helps him monitor his practices and improve them.
According to him, producing good-quality crops has helped him attract new customers. He’s grateful for the support he receives from his village in Tzaneen, Madlakazi village, and the surrounding areas.
“Another good market when you produce fresh, quality crops is hawkers, they move stock quickly,” he says.
Because many of his customers work at different times, he keeps flexible hours. “I’ve learnt to stay polite, even when someone’s unhappy. I take in feedback, even when I’m not at fault; it keeps the business going.”
Making farming inclusive
Despite the promising progress in his farming business, Shikweni points out a big gap between people living with disabilities and those without when it comes to opportunities in farming.
He explains that many are still limited in finding employment and access to courses that could help them gain new skills.
“There are very few organisations in South Africa that support people like us, and that isn’t fair. Imagine relying on a disability grant as a family man, it’s painful.”
He notes, “We need more inclusion. Disability shouldn’t be an excuse to hold back the disabled community.”
Shikweni also highlights that many places still lack basic facilities like accessible bathrooms, entrances, and paths that allow people with disabilities to move around and do daily tasks freely.
For his business, he plans to expand into mixed farming, but financial challenges hold him back for now. Still, he hopes to create a farming space that welcomes everyone, regardless of one’s disabilities.
READ NEXT: Ramasodi set to headline lekgotla on agricultural transformation
Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain.
