Urban farming pioneers show way
SIBONGILE Mbatha, 59, and Tintswalo Makhubele, 60, who own food distribution co-operatives, exemplify the idea that women are the bedrock of small and medium enterprises, which are the engines of job creation in South Africa.
Mbatha, of Thusi Primary Cooperative, and Makhubele, of Imvuselelo Bakery and Food Distribution Co-operative, are beneficiaries of the City of Joburg’s Food Resilience Unit at the Eikenhof Urban Agriculture Farm Programme, which seeks to reduce food insecurity, poverty, and unemployment. The programme, which started in 2012, also enjoys the support of United Way SA and the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
After losing a domestic worker job in 2004, the mother-of- three Mbatha joined a community farming project in Slovo Park and grew fond of the art and science of farming. “I was beaming with pride and joy to be part of this project as it affords me an opportunity to rekindle my love for farming and it also allowed me to put bread on the table for my kids,” said Mbatha.
The project was stopped due to mismanagement of funds and governance lapses. Mbatha then returned to her job as a domestic worker while she worked on reviving her love for farming as well. In the last eight years, she has worked tirelessly to build herself from an emerging to a commercial farmer who specialises in leafy greens, vegetables and herbs.
She is currently a co-founder and leader of Thusi Primary Co-operative, which comprises five members: four women and a man.
As per the programme’s operational standard, the city has given the co-operative one hectare of land and four tunnels for open field and undercover farming. “As a co-operative, we are responsible for the whole farming process. However, the city does assist with a tractor and driver to plough and till the land.
“It has also helped us with various training courses to understand and master the entire value chain of commercial farming. It is through the commitment and passion of all the co-operative members that we were able to survive these past eight years,” said Mbatha.
Her co-operative sells its products through formal and informal markets. A lucrative sales avenue for the cooperative includes, among others, the Joburg Market and retail businesses around Gauteng. “We also draw a sizeable amount of support from the community in and around the farm. Community members place their orders directly with the leadership of the co-operative and we make means to deliver,” added Mbatha.
She supports two sons, a daughter and three grandchildren. Additionally, she also managed to take her youngest son through tertiary education and he has now completed his studies and is currently employed as a technician.
Makhubele, a former teacher, HR practitioner and community leader, is the co-founder of the Eikenhof Farmers. “As an activist, part of my duties was to look after the welfare of my community in Roodekop, and when I saw an advert from the city of Joburg inviting 50 co-operatives in the farming space, I encouraged the community to apply and helped them put together profiles.”
She said when they started, it was all dry land and they had no idea what to do with it. “We thought the city was going to give us lots of money to start our farming projects as we were classified as indigenous small-scale farmers. Instead, we were given tools to clean and clear the land, and that process was extremely overwhelming but was worth it in the end,” she said.
Over the years, Makhubele has acquired several skills including sales and marketing, which is what she currently specialises in.
As part of the Eikenhof Farm Programme, the city launched a R34 million commercialisation and mechanisation programme for small-scale farmers in December 2020.
Mayoral committee for health and social development in the city, Eunice Mgcina said: “We hope our interventions will create a pattern and society of economically emancipated women,”.