Chronicle Editor
Flora Fadzai Sibanda, [email protected]
INSPIRED by her parents’ passion for farming, Bulawayo-based youth, Ms Pretty Sibanda (30) decided to follow in their footsteps by venturing into integrated farming specialising in both crop and livestock farming.
Her journey started two years ago and through determination to succeed, the young entrepreneur is today running a successful farming business that has transformed her life.
Growing up on a farm helped Ms Sibanda develop a passion for farming and animals. She owns a piece of land at Pigs Kensington in Shangani, Matabeleland South.
At her farm, she specialises in cattle ranching, piggery, goat keeping, and poultry with plans underway to introduce horticulture farming early next year. She employs two people.
Ms Sibanda keeps broiler chicken 2000 – 5000 per batch depending on returns and the young farmer has been able to supply butcheries, restaurants, and small cooking outlets in Bulawayo.
She has named her farming project “The Farmer’s Daughter” in reference to her father, who is also a farmer.
“Growing up, my mother would say plant the vegetable seedlings, your hand is good and my father being a farmer who loves the soil and livestock would encourage me the same.
“I was fascinated by the process of growing and harvesting crops and playing with cows in the Kraal,” she said.
“It became my place of happiness, and this inspired me to start my own project. The brand name ‘Farmer’s Daughter’ originated from the fact that I always loved playing around with animals and land.”
For Ms Sibanda, initially, farming was not her dream job. She said her sister would crack jokes, saying she would make a good farmer.
“I had already secured a good office job as a secretary at a local company in Bulawayo. However, when my sister continued to make jokes about how
I would make a good farmer, I took it as a challenge to venture into farming marking the beginning of my journey,” she said.
“I started two years ago and the journey was rocky and very frustrating especially financially-wise. I can safely say, this year has been very progressive, and I am anticipating that next year going forth there will be more growth.”
Ms Sibanda said she used some of her savings to buy pigs to diversify.
“My father did not influence me to venture into farming, but he actually inspired me and l am happy with the progress so far. At the moment, I keep my livestock at my father’s farm where she was allocated me piece of land,” she said.
Besides pursuing her farming projects, Ms Sibanda works for an insurance company in Bulawayo and she uses part of her salary to finance her farming project which is still in its infancy.
“I end up using my salary to buy feed and farm equipment so that business can go on instead of waiting for loans from banks without any success due to impossible requirements,” said Ms Sibanda.
“It is also important to embrace new digital technologies like online resources to enhance your capabilities and adopt new concepts.” — @flora_sibanda
Online Reporter