Young women start farm, create jobs in Eastern Cape

How it started

In 2022, five young women in Bikizana Village, Eastern Cape, were unemployed and needed a way to survive. They decided to use the land around them to start a farming cooperative. They called it Zakhe Youth Development Primary Cooperative.

Growing the business

The cooperative started with five small backyard gardens. Soon they got 10 hectares of land from the community. Today they have 189 hectares. They grow crops like spinach and supply big stores like Boxer, Spar, and Pick n Pay.

Helping the community

The cooperative does more than just farming. They donate food to schools, daycare centers, and families in need. They also help other families start their own backyard gardens. The cooperative buys the vegetables from these families, so they can earn money too. One person even started pig farming and created jobs for others.

Lessons for success

Bukeka Buqwana, one of the founders, says it's important to find a market before you start growing. She also believes in helping others become leaders. The cooperative now mentors small businesses and agricultural graduates.

Mandela Month spirit

The work of these women shows what Nelson Mandela believed in: restoring dignity and creating opportunities. Their goal is to build a strong rural economy so young people don't have to leave their homes to find work.

This article was originally published on Sowetan.