Nonhlanhla Mthethwa’s determination and resilience in the face of challenges are key to her agricultural success. Despite the difficulties she faced after moving to the Eastern Cape and the obstacles in her path, Mthethwa remained steadfast in her goal to make a positive impact on her community through farming and entrepreneurship.
Mthethwa’s agricultural journey started in 2019 in KwaZulu-Natal, her place of birth. She was still a high school student when she decided to grow her food, mainly spinach and cabbage.
When her family moved to Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape, Mthethwa was sad that she had to leave her new garden project behind. Also, Lusikisiki was a stark contrast to her childhood home in Empangeni, where she grew up.
Today, she is planting cabbage and spinach on a quarter-hectare piece of land.
A shining example
With a dream of becoming a thriving businesswoman in South Africa, Mthethwa is on a mission to make a meaningful difference in her community through her Isibani Commercial Farm.
“I hope Isibani will become a shining example of success among black-owned businesses in South Africa,” says Mthethwa.
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The big planned project is currently underway
What drove Mthethwa to start her own business was witnessing the harsh effects of unemployment on her household and those of her neighbours and friends. She felt compelled to act.
“I had a challenging childhood, and one of the things that drives me to succeed is the difficulties I faced in getting a bursary after finishing high school,” says Mthethwa.
“This experience has fueled my drive to become an entrepreneur and motivated me to prioritise my goals.”
Recognising a dire need for fresh produce in Kwa Gangatha (an area in Lusikisiki), Mthethwa seized the opportunity to make a difference. Using her child support grant, she initiated her journey, of cultivating vegetables.
“It was difficult at first to adjust to living in a village where the land was dry and the shops lacked basic vegetables,” she explains.
Fresh produce on their doorsteps
“But I was determined to make a difference and help my community have access to fresh produce without having to go several kilometres just to buy a bunch of spinach.”
Initially, she utilised her family’s garden, but when she aimed to expand for business, the property owner got uneasy.
“After a month of cultivating my green pepper, cabbage, and spinach, I received the news that I hadn’t been granted full permission to grow my vegetables on that land.”
Mthethwa had to stop production and find a new plot which she secured through another relative.
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A future of diversification
Farming in Lusikisiki comes with its unique challenges like drought and the perception that farming is not attractive for businesses, she says. Despite this, Mthethwa stays hopeful and sees opportunities for growth in the region.
She believes that with the right support and investment, Lusikisiki can flourish and become a thriving agricultural centre.
For now, her goals include growing her business, increasing markets and addressing unemployment in her community.
“In the future, Isibani will diversify into several crops, grains, livestock, dairy, and agro-processing.”
While Mthethwa builds her business forward, she is optimistic about the future and envisions herself expanding into sub-sectors of agriculture.
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