NONKULULEKO BRITTON-MASEKELA, 34, FOUNDER OF KULA ORGANIC PRODUCE

Nonkululeko turned to farming to fulfill a bigger purpose. She’s also the commercial editor at HuffPost SA.

What drew you to farming? My parents moved from Tembisa to a plot in Midrand. I used to help my father with the sheep and planting but I didn’t really enjoy it. In 2016, I did a business course at GIBS and tried to start my own thing but nothing stuck. It’s while speaking with a lecturer that I learned farming was “that thing” I was looking for.

What does it mean to be an agripreneur?

I wanted to make a contribution to our GDP, and to create my own wealth as a black person. Food security is a huge issue, so that’s why I created Kula. I hope it comes to a level where I develop deeper connections with people and our environment.

What has the journey been like?

In 2017, I met permaculture (selfsustaining farming) expert Amon Maluleke. He is skilled in farming using traditional methods. My dad had some land that he wasn’t using at home so I approached him about my business idea. I asked my lecturer to inspect the land; he pushed me to just start the business. I had to invest my own money to get things going. I put in a portion of my salary literally every month to fund the project. We grow organic veggies like spinach, kale, green peppers, beans, carrots, beetroot and tomatoes. Maluleke became my mentor and taught me how to farm using permaculture methods, and how to avoid pesticides or chemicals. It took me a year to cultivate the space and see my produce grow. I market my business through social media.

What challenges do you face as a black woman in farming?

There aren’t many women in this sector. Another issue is that we aren’t business savvy. I’m still learning about running a company, but it’s part of the journey.

What’s your advice to aspiring black women?

You must be willing to get your hands dirty. Be open to learning and reading – just do it!