Sowetan

Ngaleka’s green supplies

Farmer’s vegetables in demand in KZN

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When Ntombifiki­le Ngaleka started planting vegetables in her yard, she had no idea that one day she would own a farming business that supplies local shops and school feeding schemes.

Ngaleka, 67, is from KwaXo-lo in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal.

She farms spinach, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, onions, sugar beans and bananas. Her business won the title of best substance producer in 2016 during the KwaZulu-Natal department of agricultur­e’s Female Entreprene­urs Awards. Ngaleka said when she started planting vegetables, she wanted to help her family get fresh food but her passion drove her into business. She has also employed two local women to work on her farm. “I am currently planting my produce on two hectares of land but it is not enough. People want my vegetables, because I do not use chemical fertiliser­s. I use compost from cattle kraals,” she said.

This article first appeared in

GCIS-Vuk’uzenzele

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