He has a heart for his community, a head for the farming business, and a vision to better his livelihood and food security in Mzansi. Siyabulela Siyamthanda Skepe produces various crops at several schools and government facilities in and around Bhisho in the Eastern Cape, where he was born and raised.
Due to his parents’ separation in 1995, he and his mother moved to Hewu, not far from Whittlesea, where he developed an interest in farming.
His grandmother, Nombulelo Sishuba, was a dedicated farmer who grew a wide variety of crops on her land. This included corn, beans, melons, pumpkins, potatoes, spinach, onions, carrots, beetroot, peas, cabbage, and imithwane (pumpkin leaves).
Today, Skepe specialises in fresh produce from all of his sites, which include Tyutyu Primary, Snako Primary, and Zameka Primary School. He is also busy negotiating with Bisho High and Bisho Primary.
“I use two techniques: organic gardening on open ground and a drip hydroponic system in a tunnel. By using hydroponics, we save a great deal of water. Compared to typical regular irrigation on open land, we save over 60% or more of the water,” he says.
“Additionally, you get a more regulated environment that is readily manipulable (such as temperature in a tunnel). Yields are also improved by changing nutrients directly in irrigation mixtures.”
Spreading his wings
Even as a young boy, Skepe was curious about business, and this curiosity led him into the business of selling candy, clothing, and perfumes.
At university he became close with a fellow Tsomo native enrolled in a financial planning programme, and the two remained in constant communication on agricultural development. Skepe’s affection for farming deepened with time.
“I began as a brand ambassador for Capitec Bank in 2012. That division was eliminated in 2014, and I served as an assistant manager there until I left in 2016.”
Together they acquired a plot of land from a friend’s family and used it to launch their enterprise.
“Every month, I’d provide him with funds so he could start farming alongside us. I did it for the whole year.”
Skepe says that he would drive to Emawusheni every weekend for two years, from 2016 to 2017, to work on their project. “Initially, we worked on three hectares and expanded until the whole plot was developed.”
The beginning of a brand-new era
Skepe says that at first, they focused on growing fresh vegetables and raising chickens. They decide to build two little cottages on the same piece of land so that they could live on the farm as it became more successful.
They provided services to official and informal enterprises in the Cofimvaba and Tsomo regions. Their customers included Spar and Boxer superstores. In addition to that, they ran one of their booths right in front of the Spar store.
“However, family politics reared its head and the family claimed ownership of the land for agricultural purposes. My friend and I have never had a lease agreement for the property so I was ultimately compelled to leave that project.”
Insurmountable odds
Skepe resigned from the project in 2019 and returned home empty-handed and profoundly depressed since all of his provident fund had been spent on the project.
“The saddest part is that it was impossible to remove anything, as the majority of the things I did for this project were fixed on the property, such as building houses and improving soil fertility.”
Eventually, an idea emerged. He considered the vacant land at government facilities.
“My objective was to find properties with fixed fencing and dependable water systems. Schools came to mind first.”
Skepe contacted the school with an offer to farm in exchange for half of the harvest earnings.
He is currently farming on the grounds of Bhisho schools, hospitals, and police colleges and even purchased his own plot.
“Since I began cultivating in schools, I have applied for curriculum expansion at all the schools where I am working. My objective is to educate children about farming and its benefits for climate change and financial gain.”
What inspired the idea?
Skepe has expressed his intention to alter the way people from disadvantaged backgrounds view farming.
He also notes that there are few initial costs involved in farming, meaning that it may start as a small-scale operation in the home while the farmer considers expansion options.
“Rain or shine, in three years I will be owning my farm. It will be constructed exactly as I picture it, greatly enhancing iBhisho’s efficiency.”
The notion that “hard effort pays off” holds true for aspiring entrepreneurs, Skepe says.
“Believe in whatever you want to pursue. Do research, fail, learn from it, and master your craft. You only become an expert by getting into the game.”
Organic farming focuses mostly on the use of natural rather than synthetic ingredients. He says that this preserves the inherent nutrients in the food, resulting in far healthier veggies and improved health.
Skepe also hosts “The Hat” sessions, where he films instructional farming videos. He distributes the videos to local schoolchildren and farmers to make the subject matter more engaging and to share his expertise in intriguing methods.
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