Supermarkets relying on the arrival of produce in trucks from distant locations and the search for livelihood prompted Siphesihle Kwetana to start her own vegetable farming business.
Siphesihle, 28, from Mthatha in Eastern Cape, was recently voted the overall winner and also took first prize in the Best Commercial Farmer category in the Women’s Entrepreneur Awards (WEA) hosted by the Eastern Cape’s Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform.
“I believe that I won these awards because I had more employees compared to other competitors,” said Kwetan who runs the Siphe Development Capacitation Agency (SIDECA).
In total, Kwetana has won five awards, some of which are from 2019 which are National Award on Small Holder (YAFF) and Provincial Awards on Commercial (WEA).
Kwetana started her business in 2016 and farms on 6 hectares of land she acquired from her community. She now produces short season crops such as kale, spinach, turnip, cabbage as well as other vegetables including sweet potatoes, beetroot, butternut, lettuce, peppers and tomatoes. She supplies her fresh produce to major retailers such as Spar and Pick ’n Pay.
kwetana believed that being a young woman aspiring to enter the market came with challenges. She encountered resistance from retail stores, who refused to purchase goods from retail farmers like herself. They claimed that such farmers would only supply them with vegetables on a single occasion and subsequently fail to meet the demand due to insufficient stock.
“I asked my husband to go to the exact store and when he showed them the vegetables, they loved it and wanted us to supply them,” Kwetana explains.
That is when she came to the realisation that being a young female farmer would never be a walk in the park.
Kwetana also runs a piggery, and poultry farm and sells seedlings.
Despite lacking the necessary equipment to set up her butchery business, Kwetana believes she will also venture into aquaculture and sell her produce in her butchery with her prize money.
“I am planning to sell fish, chicken and pork in our butchery and I think people like fish,” she added.
The competition, initially known as the Female Farmer of the Year Awards, was established by the then Department of Agriculture in 1999. Its main goal is to empower women in the agricultural sector by acknowledging their valuable efforts and enhancing their presence.
Over time, it was expanded to include women entrepreneurs in the fields of fisheries and forestry, and thus the name was changed to Female Entrepreneur Awards (FEA).
This initiative is held annually and receives support from private partnership support through sponsorships and serves as a means to recognize the involvement of women in alleviating poverty, addressing hunger and reducing unemployment.
Thozi Manyisana, the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform Media Liason Officer, stated that the criteria for a woman entrepreneur in the Commercial category is evaluated based on her ability to incorporate new ideas, utilize indigenous knowledge, caring for the environment, in addition, employ effective farming techniques.
“The enterprise should be registered and have a tax clearance, sound financial management record, market plan, skills development plan, production plan and proper employment contracts, leave records, UIF records and salary advices,” Manyisana said.
Kwetana has employed 21 permanent staff members, along with 10 part-time employees, 18 students who are doing their in-service training, and one intern.
Among her 21 permanent employees is Sinalo Mcaleni, who did an in-service training and upon her completion, she was employed at SIDECA on a permanent basis.
Mcaleni, 24, from Cofimvaba studied Farming Management and is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Kwetana.
“My life has changed regarding my career. I started to be more interested (in) farming, being expose to the field has given me the meaning of food security,” she said.
Mcaleni also mentioned that Kwetana mentored her with patience and offered her a great deal of support which has uplifted her.
“I dream to have my successful agric business in future,” she added. – news@mukurukuru.co.za
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