Young female farmer scoops top prize
At just 28, Siphesihle Kwetana supplies retailers, restaurants
Siphesihle Kwetana, 28, a Lubisi-born farmer in Cofimvaba, is making waves in the agricultural sector.
It took her less than five years to start her farming enterprise and turn it into a successful business.
Growing up, Kwetana never thought that she would become a farmer one day.
After finishing high school, she left home and went to Mthatha where she started a cooking business.
It was during this time that she noticed a demand for vegetables at local shops.
“I noticed shops had a challenge of not getting vegetables like broccoli as they had to wait for trucks that came from Durban or Gqeberha to deliver these vegetables to them,” she said.
Kwetana then started a vegetable garden and approached businesses to buy from her.
“I had a challenge as I was young and they wanted to know who I was working for.
“After convincing them, they started ordering small bunches and that is when my business grew.
“I started supplying bigger supermarkets as I had references
and now I plant 6.5 hectares. I have 23 permanent employees, 25 students doing in-service training and an intern,” she said.
She has also grown her business to include poultry, a piggery and agricultural products such as seedlings.
“I supply big businesses like Pick n Pay, SPAR, BnBs, the Garden Court Hotel and restaurants in both Mthatha and East London.
“I also supply the department of health, department of agriculture and the department of correctional services,” she said.
Recently, Kwetana took top honours at the Eastern Cape department of rural development and agrarian reform’s Women Entrepreneur Awards held in Qumbu.
The awards recognise women who are involved in the agricultural sector, from subsistence to commercial level.
Kwetana came first in the commercial category and won the overall provincial prize.
She is now set to compete in the national leg of the awards to be held in the Free State.
Kwetana said she would use part of her R320,000 winnings to construct a dam to start an aquaculture project.
“The prize money will also be used for staff salaries and assist in buying equipment for a butchery that I have built at KwaKaplan Village,” she said.
“I am still doing research on the popular fish species so that I can proceed with fish farming.”
The young farmer said she looked forward to competing in the national competition.
In her category, Kwetana beat livestock producer Sinovuyo Nzukuma who runs a thriving farm in the district.
MEC Nonkqubela Pieters said the department was committed to supporting women farmers.