Chronicle Editor
Mbulelo Mpofu recently in Insiza
THE sun was high up in the sky, casting a warm glow over the dusty roads of Insiza North District. It is in this area that the village of Insangu is located, the home to Sifelilizwe Nyathi, a 44-year-old woman who has become quite famous among her neighbours for her farming skills.
Nyathi is a determined and hardworking woman who cultivates a variety of crops on her plot of land. She grows potatoes, cabbage, butternuts, beets, green peppers, maize, tomatoes, and onions. Her farm is a marvel to behold, and it is no surprise that locals often flock to her homestead seeking farming tips.
Two Saturdays ago, Saturday Chronicle visited Nyathi at her farm, and was welcomed by a group of children from Insangu Primary School who were eager to learn from the seasoned farmer. Nyathi was happy to share her knowledge and told the publication how her life had changed when she took part in the Turning Matabeleland Green (TMG) initiative in 2020.
“The TMG initiative equipped me with the requisite skills to achieve success in poultry and horticultural production. We covered a variety of topics, including horticulture, poultry, dairy, beekeeping, pecan nuts, business plan and record keeping, marketing, and opportunities in Zimbabwe,” she said.
Nyathi explained that she had learned the importance of conserving water and how to use drip farming to cultivate crops. This has enabled her to be an all-year-round farmer and was a sustainable way of earning a living.
Nyathi has also developed a reputation for providing local women and young people with short-term jobs. She volunteers her time to assist the community in acquiring the necessary skills for self-sustaining initiatives. School children consult her for agricultural projects, and youths and women gather at her garden to harvest produce and package it for sale in Bulawayo.
Nyathi’s success is not just due to her hard work, but also her father’s support. Raphael Makhiye Mthombeni, a notable businessman who is the founder and president of the Intuba Trust, has been instrumental in making Nyathi the successful farmer she is today.
“My father has offered me moral and financial support and has been a pillar of strength. The water source, land, drip lines, and solar pumping system are all his doing. My parents made sure I trained for this, and whenever they are around, transport to the market is at my disposal,” she said.
Last year, Nyathi had an impressive harvest. She harvested 1 700 heads of cabbage and had 205 crates of tomatoes, 95 pockets of onions, and 147 pockets of butternuts. However, she had faced some challenges, including market flooding that dropped prices, transportation of produce from her farm to the market, and pests and weather inconsistencies that affected plant growth.
Despite these challenges, Nyathi remains optimistic and believes that hard work is the key to her success. Her motto in life is, “Hard work breeds success,” a phrase that inspired her to put on her work suit while others were slaying and getting likes on social media.
Nyathi’s story is a reminder that success comes to those who work hard and never give up. Her determination and perseverance have made her a role model in her community, and her willingness to share her knowledge has made her a beloved figure among locals. As Saturday Chronicle left her homestead, it couldn’t help but feel inspired by Nyathi’s story, a story of hard work, perseverance, and determination. — @MbuleloMpof
Online Reporter