When her business partners backed out of their agribusiness venture at the eleventh hour, Funeka Mhlambi refused to allow this setback to derail her agricultural aspirations. And it is a good thing she did not.
Today, her business, Hlangula Ngobubele Co-operative, not only sustains her own family but also uplifts ten additional households. Moreover, it’s tackling the pressing issue of access to affordable and nourishing food in Mdantsane, East London in the Eastern Cape.
Mhlambi cultivates a wide variety of vegetables on a two-hectare plot, using a rotating calendar system to ensure a consistent supply of fresh produce throughout the year. Crops grown include cabbage, spinach, carrots, lettuce, green peppers, and potatoes.
Hlangula Ngobubele co-operative supplies to the informal market and also the Thembalethu Old Age Home.
It has not been an easy journey but despite the hardships, Mhlambi remains committed to her path, with just one lingering regret.
“I only wish I had taken farming more seriously when I was younger. I would’ve been pretty far already.”
How it started
Selling produce at a reasonable price is important to this farmer and she is on a mission to supply affordable food.
“Our community is grateful for the fresh and affordable produce we provide,” she shares.
Getting here took lots of grit and determination. In her previous life, Mhlambi worked as a street cleaner. When her cleaning contract was about to end, she and nine other colleagues approached their local councillor to help find a plot of land where they could start a farming cooperative.
The group was informed of a vacant space at Howard Ben Mazwi Primary School and seized the opportunity.
Mhlambi and her team were determined to turn the vacant space into a thriving agricultural hub and began working tirelessly to make their vision a reality.
“We hoped for funding, [but] started [the garden] from our own pockets.”
Then, a majority of the cooperative members grew concerned, stating that it was no longer working for them. Mhlambi said because of their poverty and other financial challenges, “[They] got jobs, but I stayed committed to what we started.”
Building her agri knowledge
Mhlambi’s hard work and dedication paid off when she completed a farming course in 2021, which allowed her to learn about farming methods that do not require the use of harmful pesticides. This excited her as it aligned with her vision for a healthy and sustainable cooperative.
Since then, the department of agriculture in the Eastern Cape has seen Hlangula Ngobubele Co-operative’s potential and provided them with agribusiness training.
“I have greatly enhanced my farming skills, particularly in pricing my produce and exploring alternative fertilising methods,” she shares.
Going big
Looking forward, Mhlambi’s goal is to obtain a larger plot of land so that she can expand her farming operation and increase her product offering.
With her eyes fixed on the horizon, Mhlambi carries with her a strong commitment to her community and strives to be an enduring solution for their food security needs.
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