Khetha Biyela’s involvement in farming was not a deliberate decision, but rather a result of her circumstances, as she sought to alleviate poverty and improve her financial situation. Today, she farms crops and poultry on a one-hectare piece of land in the Empangeni region in KwaZulu-Natal.
Biyela was born and raised in the Obuka Reserve Debe area, which falls under the Mthonjaneni Municipality. In 2007, when she tragically lost both her brother and father, her life took a drastic turn. Suddenly, she and her mother were faced with numerous challenges, and she was forced to transition from being a child to becoming a young adult, all in a short span of time.
She explains that death did not cease; instead, it also claimed her mother in 2014.
“Life taught me a valuable lesson when my mother passed away. I was only 24 years old at the time, and I found myself struggling to adapt to the challenges that life presented me with.”
She was enrolled in the civil engineering and building construction programme at Esikhawini College and received a grant from NSFAS. She says that the grant served as a lifeline for both her and her niece.
“NSFAS saved us from going to bed hungry. It was during this time that I learned the valuable skill of using money wisely.”
Acquiring necessary lifelong abilities
After completing her 18-month in-service training in Richards Bay in 2019, Biyela struggled to find employment. As a result, she decided to start a small business selling sweets, chips, and drinks to her community, with a particular focus on school children.
“I was looking for a way to generate a steady income, but what I had wasn’t sufficient. That’s when I thought about getting into poultry farming.”
She began her poultry farming journey with 20 chicks, as that was within her budget. Despite the challenges that come with this line of work, she considered crops to be an extension of her efforts. However, she had doubts about whether she would be able to persevere – until the present day.
“I am proud of myself and amazed to see how far I have come, especially when I compare it to where I started.”
Making it happen
She believes that her experience in farming and being self-reliant has taught her to carry on despite the unpredictability of life. Biyela emphasises the importance of personal growth and learning, to the extent that one can become self-sufficient and create their own opportunities.
“Learning financial skills can be quite challenging. When you are young, it is common to feel a desire for the things that other young people possess.”
However, although it can be difficult, consistently reminding yourself of why you started and where you want to be, provides you with the necessary strength to persevere, Biyela explains.
Reaching her goals slowly but surely
Since 2019, Biyela has expanded her crop selection from cabbages, spinach, and onions to include sugar beans. After careful observation, she discovered that sugar beans thrive exceptionally well on her land. Moreover, she realised that sugar beans have a high demand in both rural and urban markets, making them a profitable crop to sell.
Her market is more locally focused and has fruit and vegetable vendors.
She expresses her desire to expand her farming operations yet currently faces challenges related to accessing and owning larger plots of land.
Biyela is spreading the message of turning lemons into lemonade, emphasising that when faced with no other options, lemonade tastes even sweeter.
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