By: Sizakele Nduli
Crop farming was not on Aphiwe Ntombikayise Mtshali’s radar after she left her office job. But now, at 35, she thrives as the founder and CEO of Hlelakahle Projects. Mtshali, who comes from Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal and is currently based in Greytown, started her business in 2018 with 5000 cabbages. This was after she received financial assistance from her father to buy seedlings.
She told Vutivi News that thanks to her father who bought a 10ha farm in the area in 2010, she was now a crop farmer. Mtshali specialises in seasonal vegetables such as spinach, peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers. “In 2018, [my father] gave me about R1800 for me to buy seedlings and that’s how I just started,” she explained.
Initially, Mtshali did not have prior knowledge of planting crops, which prompted her to seek help from an experienced farmer. “We exchanged skills with this farmer. He taught me how to plant and came with his family to help me plant those seedlings and then I sold his cabbages because he was struggling with [marketing],” Mtshali said.
As with every business, Mtshali has had to overcome a fair share of obstacles. “The challenge that I’m facing, basically that most farmers face, is the weather. You need to know your weather and keep on rotating your vegetables until you find what works best in that particular area and season,” she said.
Additionally, after Mtshali received funding of R3.2 million from the Agribusiness Development Agency in 2021, she needed more staff to help run the farm and had to increase her wage bill. She used the funding to expand operations, including buying equipment such as a tractor, building a cold room and storage houses, and digging 10 tunnels. The farmer explained that she had to push herself to the limit while building her business, and was grateful that her employees had been patient and understanding. “I am able to speak to my workers when there are shortfalls or challenges,” she said, emphasising the importance of genuine leadership and communication with her staff to overcome difficulties.
Today Mtshali has four permanent employees and seven seasonal workers, with the number of seasonal employees sometimes reaching as high as 20 when needed. She contributes to the growth of the community by working hand-in-hand with AgriSETA to help teach them basic farming skills. Mtshali’s vision for the future of her business involves expanding into agro-processing and setting up a nursery to eliminate an hour-long journey to get seedlings.
