RAINFALL is a blessing for farmers, but too much rainfall is a farmer’s worst nightmare.
The right amount of rain helps crops grow accordingly, while too much rain can destroy crops.
In April, KZN farmers’ worst nightmare came true when they experienced heavy floods which washed away their crops.
The aftermath left them devastated but for Siyabonga Ndlela, the floods were a learning curve and a push for him to find ways to deal with natural disasters.
The 31-year-old farmer from Impendle, KZN, refused to watch his hard work go down the drain.
Siyabonga lost crops and infrastructure amounting to R250 000, but that didn’t stop him from saving the little that was left and starting all over again.
Siyabonga said his grandfather taught him everything he needed to know about farming.
“When I was growing up, my mkhulu was a very big potato farmer and he supplied big stores. He owned a big potato farm and a lot of cows. And every time he went to work on the farm, he would take me along and teach me,” he said.
He said he learnt farming techniques at a very tender age.
Siyabonga said sadly his grandfather passed away while he was in high school and his farmland was left unused.
“After completing matric, I went to study engineering because mkhulu was not there to motivate me to take over the land.
“The land was left untouched for years until 2019 when the farming fire burnt inside me. I tried to ignore it but it kept on growing,” he said.
Siyabonga said he went back home and started farming.
“When I decided that I will farm my mkhulu’s land, I visited his grave and asked him to guide me as I will carry on with his legacy.
“I started farming a small portion of the land, but today, I farm on all my mkhulu’s hectares. I sell the end products to local supermarkets. I am about to strike a deal with a big retailer that I will supply,” said Siyabonga.
He founded the KZN agricultural business, Ndlela Agri Group, which has helped him walk away with this year’s Firstwatch Whisky Entrepreneurs Challenge title.
