Muzi Mathebula

Muzi Ndumiso Mathebula

Business Name: Sidlani Farms.

District: Steyndorp, Gert Sibande District, Mpumalanga.

Produce: Tomatoes ,cabbage, green peppers, chillies.

2013

Background:

Sidlani Farms started operating in 2013 and is classified under the primary Agricultural Sector. The business produces vegetables – mainly tomatoes, cabbage, green peppers and chilies. All produce are sold for fresh consumption to various consumers and buyers – mainly to local hawkers, Spar and feeding schemes. There are three hectares available for farming.

Muzi planted 0,5 hectares of tomatoes and 0,5 hectares of cabbages early this year, and whilst the tomatoes are currently in harvesting, the cabbages are finished. Muzi managed to pay back 100% of his loan within one month, and in May of 2023 he transplanted 10 000 Megaton cabbages, which will be ready for harvest early in August 2023.

The challenges experienced:

• PRODUCTION: The main challenge is poor land preparation due to a shortage of tractors. Lack of technical knowledge in terms of using pest control guide and fertilizer programs.

• FINANCIAL: Muzi strives to get financial support to optimize production, enabling him to purchase sufficient production inputs.

• ACCESS TO MARKET: Access to the market is sufficient, which include local hawkers from Swaziland and South Africa for tomatoes, green peppers and chillies, whilst Spar and the feeding scheme support him with cabbage and tomatoes.

• TRADING: Muzi has plenty of traders that support his business every week, which is generating continuous sales.

Intervention / Solution:

• PRODUCTION: Monthly tractor training has been offered, as well as sourcing private tractor contractors to assist with improving the land preparation. Timbali has allocated Muzi with well experienced field technicians called PSF Officers. They make frequent visits to the farm to ensure maximum production and provide daily recommendations/solutions to all issues observed in the field at a production level. He was also assisted with the relevant Operations Procedure Manuals required for production e.g. fertilizer and chemical programs. All support provided is always aligned and based on what the farmer is currently producing or planning to produce.

• MARKET ACCESS: On a monthly basis Timbali hosts Market Access Workshops where buyers meet the sellers, as well as to train the farmers about proper market access and the skills required to supply the market. Timbali has also merged Muzi with big formal markets such as Simply Salads and Hello Choice, to which he is currently supplying tomatoes, cabbages and butternuts.

• FINANCE: Timbali facilitated loan financing through its collaboration with Standard Bank South Africa and received a loan of R88 189 to improve his quality and yields. Since being linked to Simply Salads Market, Muzi’s sales have increased significantly. The Timbali PSF Officers are also assisting with weekly produce sales and provide assistance with traders from Swaziland.

• TRADING: Since being linked to Simply Salads Market, Muzi’s sales have increased significantly. The Timbali PSF Officers are also assisting with weekly produce sales and provide assistance with traders from Swaziland.

Outcome / Results:

Before Timbali’s intervention, the quality of Muzi’s product was insufficient. With the increase in market access, he has been able to attracted traders with his good quality, resulting in increased sales.

Muzi is still mostly dependent on the formal market such as Simply Salads, Spar, feeding schemes and the local hawkers.
Muzi has become one of the well-recognized small-scale farmers within the area. Timbali also introduced Muzi to large markets such as RSA, Hello Choice and One Farm Share, where he has the opportunity to supply tomatoes.

He has managed to pay back his loan in full within one month. Future plans are to continue introducing Muzi to other potential markets such as Qutom, Tiger Brands and Farm Wise.