By: Zintle Gqibani
Nkosinathi Makamela(21), hails from Komkhulu Emunya Village in Idutywa town. He’s a third-year Animal Science student at the University of Fort Hare. As a young, dedicated man who takes risks, he started his small-scale farming not knowing everything will turn out to be a success. “ I believe nothing comes from nothing, yet something can come out from a small thing, I am a hard worker, and I am a farmer,” he explains.
Growing up in the rural areas with parents who loved agriculture inspired him to venture into farming. “ My parents would call me to help them plough vegetables and sometimes they would give me my own seeds to plant so that we can also eat something I planted,” he recalls.
In 2019 his mother got sick and everything she looked after kept on decreasing to a point where there was nothing to sell. The passing of his mother made him realise that there was a gap left and if he does not change his mindset they will struggle financially. “ I am grateful that lockdown happened I was now able to start my own farming business using my food allowance money from NSFAS,” he says.
As a new young farmer facing capital challenges and water shortage does not stop him from wanting more. Being nominated at the Eastern Cape Youth Awards under Agriculture motivated him to do more than just hiring people from his community to help him when harvesting.
“I am what people call a big dreamer in the next 5 years I want to improve Idutywa by opening my own abattoir and a small store next to my abattoir where I can sell vegetables,” he concludes.
-Photo/Supplied
