Young Sanele Nyandeni envisages being a leg pig farmer in Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal, simply because that is what he loves. He also seeks to see a hunger-free community where everyone is involved in farming.
Nyandeni owns a 240-hectare farm where he runs his pig operation, however, he intends to venture into other livestock and crops to expand his business.
He said growing up, farming was never something he considered but after seeing a family friend farming and being exposed to the space of agriculture, he decided to give it a shot in 2022.
“I was never interested in farming until five years ago when I started engaging farmers and being on the farm. Seeing the animal growing until its mature age to either be slaughtered or sold, the whole value chain fascinated me and I knew from there that I need to start my own operations,” he says.
A giant leap of faith
With exposure under his belt, Nyandeni took a bold step to start his own farm called Vumisa Piggery, and he has never looked back.
“I thought there was a need for big capital to start, that was the mindset that I had. But being in the presence of farmers and seeing operations on the farm, it hit me that I can do this, I can start with what I had.
“I did just that and started with what I had. My passion for farming grew day by day. Seeing the livestock daily growing and the hard work I had put in coming into play, was just great for me.”
Nyandeni says he had to learn fast and hit the ground running as the farming environment needs a person who is flexible.
“In pig farming, I learned that there is no time to rest. Feeding the pigs has its own obstacles and needs a farmer to know what is needed, so for me to grasp that process took a lot from me and it was a learning curve,” he explains.
Running the farm
Nyandeni travels 25 kilometres to his farm, making it difficult for him to keep a close eye on the farm which is a target for crime. He has been lucky so far but he remains vigilant.
“While you are trying to find your feet and just get the gist of how operations flow on your farm, external factors like crime hit you.”
He says he does not have a specific market and is open to anyone who wants to buy. However, there are many challenges when it comes to selling his livestock. Nyandeni says he gets discouraged by customers who want to buy on credit.
“At the moment, my selling price for a five-month pig is R1 100. As a young black person trying to make a living, [it’s difficult because] customers tend to want to take and pay later which they never do, which is a problem for me.
“I have learned the hard way. I no longer allow credit because operational costs end up not being covered because people do not pay.”
Thankfully, Nyandeni says he can rely on his five experienced workers who are very helpful in running the farm.
Big dreams
Notwithstanding his current challenges, Nyandeni sees himself owning a big piggery and venturing into logistics, so he can deliver to his customers’ doors.
“I love the journey of growing my piggery and challenging myself to do more and better every time. I want to keep farming and creating jobs in my community.
“As more young people consider farming, I think the government should have free short courses on farming and also fund and give the youth land for them to work on. That is the only way I think we will end unemployment and poverty in the country,” he says.
Nyandeni calls on young people to use their skills and knowledge to farm and says everyone has a skill they can utilise to farm.
“My message is very simple: just start. If you fail, try again and importantly, never lose hope. Speak to other farmers as that will greatly help you as a farmer. Knowledge is not only found in books but also by engaging others,” he advises.
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