Thandeka Myeni’s passion for farming sprouted from a learnership at a South African environmental organisation. Despite having no interest in agriculture at first, she now farms maize and beans alongside her brother on three-hectares in Hluhluwe, a small town in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
“I never envisaged myself in farming. I always pictured myself in an office,” Myeni shares.
On any given day, Myeni and her brother, Nkosinathi Thwala, travel for 2km from their residence to their farm called Umlingo Agri-Project. They do not have a bakkie, so they have to make this journey by foot twice a day. Once in the morning to tend to the land, and again in the evening after a day’s labour.
But they don’t mind. Farming has become their passion.
“We took the plunge because we believe in this venture. Despite the ups and downs, we’re glad to have finally begun, despite the formidable challenges.”
Facing challenges head-on
The farm was started with capital that came from Thwala and Myeni’s savings. Getting started required a substantial investment, Myeni explains. They had to allocate funds to clear trees and fence the land, amounting to a total cost of R25 000.
Unfortunately, they ran into some trouble. “Our initial challenges began right from the onset of setting up the infrastructure,” she shares.
Instead of acquiring the appropriate-sized fencing, they purchased 10×10 fencing, leaving their produce vulnerable to rabbits. Myeni says that they should have opted for either 50×100, or 100×100 fencing, but they were unaware at the time.
“Mistakes are part of the learning process,” acknowledges Myeni.
According to Myeni, the most pressing issue they are faced with is the scarcity of water. They must transport water from the village to the fields for irrigation, which not only presents a challenge but also restricts their farming options.
“We’re unable to cultivate high-demand vegetables. A dam would be the ideal solution for farmers in our area.”
Expressing their aspirations, she says, “We aspire to one day grow cabbage, green peppers, lettuce, spinach, butternut, and chillies, as these vegetables are in demand in our locality.”
Their maize and beans are sold to the community, schools, and other local farmers. Despite encountering challenges with market stability, Myeni remains optimistic about their prospects.
Investing in the future
Getting here would not have been possible without the support of a learnership she secured with the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa).
Among other things, Wessa assists young individuals in starting their own businesses. Wessa provided her with supervision and guidance for the farming businesses. The stipend Myeni received monthly also helped a lot with buying necessary items for the farm.
She and her brother are excited about the future and hope to expand their business.
“Vegetables top our wish list, and delving into herb cultivation seems promising, especially considering the high demand for herbs in KwaZulu-Natal. Establishing a herb business could ensure a steady income stream,” she says.
For now, she is finding ways to generate additional income to help reach their farming goals.
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