Ndwedwe’s Sinethemba Masinga is making bold strides to establish herself as a fully-fledged farmer.

Growing up in a rural environment she learnt the importance of agriculture to provide food security from a young age.

Her family’s small vegetable garden always ensured that there was food on the table.

She first made a detour, studying towards a BSc degree at UKZN before dropping out in 2020 to pursue her true passion for farming.

Masinga did not allow her lack of knowledge in running a farm deter her.

She took a leap of faith by renting 1.5 hectares of land and got to work.

Despite many challenges, Sinethemba’s headstrong spirit allowed her to triumph in the face of adversity.

“From battling unpredictable weather to navigating limited access to resources, each obstacle had to be overcome by resilience. The money for expanding my operations came from my own pocket,” she said.

Sinesthembiso Produce, as her enterprise is named, employs sustainable farming practices to ensure her crops remain affordable, especially for the local community.

Masinga has increased her farm’s production capacity and also diversified her crops over the years to include spinach, cabbage, tomatoes and ground nuts.

She has now reached the stage of securing distribution deals with some major retailers such as Boxer stores and Pick n Pay.

Invested in community development, Masinga also launched a non-profit organisation, EmseniWenkosi uJesu in 2021.

The outreach programme provides women and the youth with training and resources to cultivate crops for substance farming.

“We hope to reach more Ndwedwe community members with time to improve food security and alleviate poverty.”

Her success has become a source of inspiration among her peers.

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