school in Zithobeni where she completed Grade 10. She started off as
a packer for Kandustrial Solid Door
in 2004, and in 2012 heard of an
opportunity at Rethabiseng Sustainable Farm where she worked in the
fields. A few months later she was
put in charge of the chickens where
she became responsible for feeding,
monitoring growth, maintaining
hygiene and selling. Her excellent
behaviour, discipline and work ethic
led to her name being submitted by
the cooperative for the Best Young
Farmer of the Year Competition
When asked what all this meant to
her, she replied, “I think I was just
lucky. I never knew my work here
would take me to this level. I want
to invest some of my prize money
for my daughter so that she can
have a better education. I wish to
have my own chicken farm and
continue to use the skills that I
learnt at Rethabiseng Sustainable
Farming project, thanks to Afrisam
and Food & Trees for Africa”.
growth and diversification in the
community where Afrisam operates. The 6ha farm does not only
comprise of chicken broilers, but
also produces vegetables, including
lettuce, carrots, cabbage and spinach.
FTFA’s FEED programme empowers
women like Sphiwe through agriculture. Many of the farmers who
work at the FEED projects are women. The majority of these women
are working hard to improve not
only their own life, but the life of
those around them, with each
woman supporting three beneficiaries at home.
Sustainable farming is the efficient
production of safe, high quality
agricultural products, in a way that
protects and improves the natural
environment, the social and economic conditions of farmers, their
employees and local communities,
and safeguards the health and welfare of all farmed species.
The Rethabiseng Sustainable Farm
is funded by Afrisam and aims to
provide sustainable economic
For more information about
FTFA’s FEED project,
please contact 011 656 9802
or e-mail [email protected]
Sources:
http://www.actesacomesa.org/helping-women-become-farmers-in-south-africa/
http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/blog/young_female_farmer_reaps_two_awards.html