Lydenburg farmer grows food for the community

Kagiso Mhlalarecognised an innovative way to create asustainable food source for his community. He has started his own business growing potatoes, maize and dry beans.

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Mhlala’s farming initiative has grown by leaps and bounds, and he is now part of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (Dardlea) and the Fortune 40 Young Farmers’ (F-40) Sibhizi Njani Co-operative.

This is an incubation programme for the department’s ambassadors. After receiving training from Dardlea for the past three years, his passion and determination have paid off.

“I am very thankful to Two River Mines for assisting me,” said Mhlala. They bought him a John Deere tractor, a four-row disc plow,
and other necessary equipment. Mhlala has
two employees on a full-time basis and two as seasonal workers.

The Sibhizi Njani Co-operative was launched in 2015 and aims to equip young prostpective farmers with mentorship and farming skills.

The programme empowers them to be self-employed, run their own project, play a part in ensuring food security, and fight unemployment and poverty.