Phikolomzi Kato is among many graduates who struggled to find employment after completing their studies. Drawing on a strong family background in farming, he chose a path that required little start-up capital.
He began in 2024 with just 15 chickens and the land available at home, As his confidence grew, he expanded into crop production and eventually established Ngubengcuka Agritech in Qoboqobo, Eastern Cape.
Now farming on half a hectare of his father’s land, he is slowly building his enterprise.
Small start, big vision
Kato holds an honours degree in agricultural economics from the University of Fort Hare, where he graduated in 2022. He returned home while applying for jobs, but nothing came through.
The frustration, along with the cost of living, pushed him to think differently and turn to farming. “At home, we had about 15 chickens, which later grew to more than 100 chicks. I started selling them to buy seeds,” he says.
“I began by making seedbeds and sowing my own seedlings, including cabbage, tomato and spinach. That was my starting point.”
Kato adds that he later began breeding the smaller chickens, eventually introducing larger breeds.
What works for him, he says, is combining traditional methods with simple homemade techniques, such as using ikalika to chase pests, though he admits it is not as effective as commercial chemicals.
“I also got a Hampshire cock to improve the quality of my chicks, based on what people prefer and what is easy to market,” he explains. Many people in his area prefer indigenous or improved breeds over standard commercial chickens, which pushed him to improve his flock.
Overall, he says he combines what he learned in class with the knowledge he grew up with at home.
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Turning knowledge into growth
Kato tells Food For Mzansi that one of the key lessons from university is that agricultural economics is a critical part of agriculture, as it focuses on the market side and helps determine trends. He explains that it links the economy with food production, ensuring that what is produced meets consumer needs fairly.
“I can say agricultural economics is the bridge between agriculture and agribusiness.”
Despite his progress, Kato says water scarcity remains his biggest challenge. “I usually collect water from the river using my father’s horse, and I also use the horse for land preparation,” he says.
Because he is aiming high, Kato admits he is not yet where he wants Ngubengcuka Agritech to be. The lack of a stable water source continues to slow down the business.
He adds, “Even this year, I’m still trying to grow. I’m planning to expand onto a two-hectare piece of land I recently leased, but I need proper fencing first. I will also be producing more potatoes.”
Farming with strategy and vision
Looking back at his journey, Kato says his studies are the powerhouse behind his potential in farming, as he continues to apply the practical experience gained during those years.
“I gained personal experience that I now use to support myself. For me, farming is not just about doing; I plan everything,” he says.
“I know what can help me solve specific problems, whether it is pesticides or fungicides. All that information came from my studies, so when it comes to knowledge, farming is not a challenge for me.”
He notes that he has built an informal market within his community and occasionally supplies hawkers in town, while working towards entering formal and commercial markets.
Most of the work in his business is labour-intensive, he explains, from fetching water with horses to managing daily operations.
“From now on, I’m planning to focus on producing potatoes on a large scale. With a good irrigation system or water tanks, and a bigger piece of land, I can achieve that.”
Part of his vision is to position his company among the leading potato producers in the Eastern Cape.
He adds that he currently practises intensive farming, using fertilisers and pesticides to maximise yields while working on limited land. “Sustainable farming focuses on methods that optimise yields while protecting the soil, such as organic practices,” he explains.
With sustainability in mind, Kato is working hard and someday soon, his vision will pay off.
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