Mary-Ann Palayandi never imagined her life would take such a drastic turn. As a successful corporate professional, she thrived in her career but life had other plans.
In 2022, her daughter, Marie-Louise Mabena, fell gravely ill. What began as occasional hospital visits quickly turned into an exhausting cycle of doctors and tests. To support her new lifestyle changes and diet, her daughter dreamt of starting her own small-scale farming project.
“When my daughter fell ill, I decided to leave my corporate job to support her where she needed me. We ventured into this, and we bought a farm in 2022,” she says.
However, life took a cruel turn when Marie-Louise passed away in June 2023. She was devastated. The farm became both a painful reminder of her daughter’s unfulfilled dreams and an opportunity to keep her spirit alive.
She felt that her daughter’s vision deserved to survive and continued the journey they started together.
Today, the farming operation, Sweetwater Farmers, is a co-op with several members. They plant and grow dhania, spinach, cabbage, and onions on 8.5 hectares in the Walkerville area of South Gauteng.
Their market, which is informal at this stage and includes Soweto and Eldorado Park, has complimented their spinach, noting that it is very crispy and of high quality, Palayandi says proudly.
Rising to farming challenges
Arriving at this point has involved numerous challenges. Palayandi says it began after they added pig farming. They started with five large white pigs, and by 2023, their herd had grown to about 40. However, while attending a funeral out of town, they lost over 15 pigs to theft.
“The structure was secure but thieves managed to jump over and steal them. We’re planning to reinstall the electric fence to better protect the pigs,” she says.
Palayandi has discovered that farming security is crucial because they have lost food and equipment to theft. “We’re considering installing CCTV cameras.”
They also tried raising chickens for eggs but due to the high cost of feed, they could not continue. “A bag of feed costs R380, and we needed about 10 bags per week. To produce eggs, they require layer mash.”
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When they bought the farm, the previous owners had been growing spinach, and they continued with it.
“Unfortunately, one of the workers accidentally burned the spinach with a container that wasn’t cleaned properly. We had to remove everything, nurture the soil, and treat it. The soil is ready now, and we’ve replanted,” she adds.
According to Palayandi, Sweetwater Farmers enhance their soil by incorporating food scraps and animal manure, ensuring their products are organic. “We use chillies and garlic as natural pesticides, and kraal manure to enrich the soil and nourish our plants.”
Committed to community
To fuel her growth, Palayandi has equipped herself with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed and advance in her agricultural pursuits.
She completed short courses at Tshwane University of Technology, earning certificates in tunnel and shade net production, production planning, beekeeping, aquaculture, and nursery management.
“The short courses taught me how to test my soil, make beds, plant correctly, and know when to harvest. A big one was learning how to make a profit.”
Originally trained as a social auxiliary worker, she later worked as a debtors clerk and then as a banquet coordinator for Sandton Sun.
Palayandi also has a heart for upskilling others. She actively participates in various local projects, including leading a movement where she invites older women to the farm for coffee and motivational discussions.
“Some days, they also receive body massages from a qualified therapist who teaches us.”
She says when she sees these women having fun and forgetting their home problems, she feels good.
“To me, it’s all about spoiling them. Maybe one day it will become something big.”
Palayandi says Sweetwater Farmers plans to involve more youth in agriculture, teaching them how to grow food both practically and as a business.
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