T H E O D O R A H    M O N G W E

LIMPOPO – Crop and poultry farmer Theodorah Mongwe from Nkowankowa is urging young people to consider farming as a viable and rewarding career.

“Now is the time for young people to create opportunities for themselves, and farming offers great potential. As a country, we need to focus on food security. Even if you don’t own a farm, having a garden in your backyard means you’ll never go hungry,” she said.

The 37-year-old’s farming journey began after completing a qualification in occupational health management. Unable to find employment, she decided to start her own business, Uhlurile Chickens. Over time, she expanded into crop farming, growing vegetables such as spinach, tomatoes, cabbage, butternut, and green beans.

Mongwe also raises broiler chickens that produce eggs, which she sells to residents in Nkowankowa and the surrounding areas.

However, this year’s heavy rains from December through February damaged most of her crops, causing significant financial losses.

Undeterred, she is now experimenting with pig farming, currently keeping a few pigs as she tests this new venture.

In addition to her farming activities, Mongwe is passionate about giving back to her community.

Through her organisation, Rivoningo ra Vavasati, established in 2020, she teaches other women, especially the unemployed and widows, how to farm and sustain themselves.

“I believe God instructed me to reach out and help these women put food on their tables,” she said.

For more information, follow Uhlurile Chickens on Facebook or call 067 034 3754.

K U H L U L A     N D H I M A

After a successful career as a lawyer, 40-year-old Kuhlula Ndhima made a bold transition into farming.

Today, she runs two farms focussed on crop cultivation and poultry, producing eggs as well as harvesting sugar beans, cabbage, tomatoes, and peppers.

Kuhlula credits her strong business sense to her parents, who raised her and her four siblings with the understanding that relying on a salary alone is never enough. Her parents, a pastor and a former teacher, have been selling atchar, tomatoes, and broilers for decades, and continue to do so today.

One of the biggest challenges Kuhlula faced as a young, upcoming farmer was accessing formal markets. As a result, she sells primarily to resellers and the general public.

Funding is another major hurdle. She expressed frustration over the criteria used by the provincial Department of Agriculture to support farmers.

“I often hear of people receiving large funding amounts without meeting agricultural standards, and the same individuals get funded year after year. Meanwhile, some of us have to dig deep into our own pockets,” she explained.

She also noted instances where the department provides fertilisers and chemicals without verifying whether the recipients are actually planting crops or even have water permits.

Ndhima’s farms are located in the Tarentaal area outside Tzaneen, though she originally comes from Blinkwater Ka Msengi outside Giyani.

Her impressive educational background includes an LLB degree, several postgraduate diplomas in law, an MBA, and certificates in crop production, plant production, and poultry management.

To follow her journey, visit Ndhima Farm on Facebook @kuhlulandhima.