He is only 22-years-old, an age at which many are still figuring out what to do with their lives.
But Tongaat’s Peaceful Ndlovu is already South Africa’s youngest land reform grower for Tongaat Hulett. At his young age he has taken over over the reins of his family’s 95.8ha Sinembe farm, left to him by his parents, Bheki and Rosemary, who died in 2006 while he was in high school.
The Crawford College North Coast matriculant told the Courier he did not immediately go back to the farm after school, as he was studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
“But then I realised, if I did not step up, who would? I did not grow up on the farm and had zero farming experience, but my father left a strong foundation I had to build on.”
Since he was still a minor when his father died, Ndlovu could only assume full responsibility for the farm in 2010. He returned on a full-time basis at the beginning of the year.
He credits neighbouring farmers, contractor Bhekani Ndlovu and Tongaat resident Roy Govender for helping him learn the trade.
Under Peaceful’s management, and with the support of Tongaat Hulett, the farm productivity has steadily increased moving from 2684 tons of sugarcane in 2010 to 3455 tons in 2013.
The company has provided on-going extension support and facilitated farm-based training on various farming aspects including fertiliser application, cane estimation, knapsack calibration and variety identification.
In addition to his growing success as a farmer, he has been appointed as a member of the Grower Council and Maidstone Planters’ Association.
“I am excited to be a member of these structures as they provide a platform to engage with government on issues impacting farmer growth and sustainability.”
Ndlovu also plans to give back to the communities surrounding his farm, particularly Emona and Ndwedwe, by helping children with school uniforms and toys at Christmas.
And the key to his success? Ndlovu said he lives by the words of his primary school principal, Umhlali Preparatory’s Astra Russell.
“She always used to say ‘strive with all your might’. I have never forgotten those words.”
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