The Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform is making significant strides towards economic freedom through its promotion of household food gardens. This programme not only benefits the farmers themselves but also provides employment opportunities for others in the community.
One success story that exemplifies the programme’s impact is that of Nontuthuzelo Mbele from Goso Village in the Alfred Nzo district. She embarked on her household food garden journey in 2014, initially focusing on producing vegetables solely for her family’s consumption without any plans to sell her yield.
A huge feather in her cap
However, her dedication and hard work propelled her forward. During her subsistence farming phase, she participated in the Women Entrepreneur Awards (WEA), previously known as the Female Entrepreneur Awards, and emerged victorious in the subsistence category at both the district and provincial levels.
“I thank God for giving me the strength to farm and to continue employing jobless youths. This means my company is not going to fade any time soon,” said Mbele after winning the Best Smallholder Farmer category and the overall prize at the department’s Alfred Nzo district WEA competition.
Putting her winnings to good use
Using her winnings from 2019, Mbele invested in water tanks to store water for irrigation and seedlings. With this year’s winnings, she plans to expand her farming enterprise, which encompasses beef, vegetable, poultry, and piggery production, by acquiring an additional 10 000-litre water tank. Mbele sells her produce at local food retail stores including Spar, Spargs, a local lodge, and schools around Goso.
“In 2019, I entered this competition and I won in the Best Subsistence Producer Category. This year I also entered the competition under the Smallholder Category and I won. I also won the overall producer prize for the district,” Mbele explained, expressing her gratitude and acknowledging her achievements.
Buhlebuyeza Nodola, the Alfred Nzo district director, praised the participants at the district awards, stating, “This is due to the help of our Extension and Advisory Services Officers. The department is further helping some of them with various things such as farming inputs and feed. We also assist some in cropping, and we are going to continue assisting farmers, women, and youth in particular.”
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