A few years ago, Welile Gumede, the owner of Azowel Projects, was hailed as a rising star in agriculture. She had won numerous awards and several competitions but fate, cruel and unrelenting, had other plans.
Gumede has faced significant difficulties multiple times on her farming journey, but the disastrous floods and hailstorms that hit KwaZulu-Natal completely destroyed her farming business, costing her close to R3 million.
“At the time, we had managed to erect 20 tunnels at full capacity that were producing peppers. Just when we were trying to rebuild, the 2023 hailstorm wiped out all our efforts.”
From rising star to struggling farmer
She started farming in 2017, leasing 9.5 hectares with 10 dilapidated plastic tunnels from the Qwabe-Nkanini Trust.
“The damage last year set us back as we were unable to start with the production of cucumbers. Our tomatoes were completely damaged,” she says.
Azowel was originally located in KwaDukuza, but operations came to a halt in July 2021 during the unrest. This led to at least 10 workers losing their jobs.
While the project was in its initial stages of recovery, the flooding in April 2022 did not spare Azowel. The business lost all its tunnels and vegetables and was left with no option but to relocate.
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Rebuilding in Camperdown
Gumede then moved her business to Camperdown, where she currently has 21 tunnels. The maximum capacity of each tunnel is 900 plants, and 10 tunnels are currently in full production.
Azowel produces 20 000 tonnes of tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers combined, in hydroponic tunnels and supplies various markets.
The business received funding to the value of R3.6 million from the department of agriculture and rural development through its agency, the Agribusiness Development Agency (ADA).
The farm has also received 4 500 peppers as well as 2 400 tomato seedlings from the department.
“Although we have made great progress at our new premises, we are hoping to maximise production by erecting a packhouse that will also assist with waste management on the farm. We are also in need of an irrigation system,” Gumede said.
MEC Super Zuma recently visited Azowel Project and said that his department would continue working with Azowel until they were fully commercialised.
“I am pleased by the hard work that I see. We will do all we can to ensure that you reach your full potential,” said Zuma.
Gumede said that they are grateful to the government for the assistance they have received.
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