A group of young farmers from Khayelitsha and surrounding areas under the Harvest of Hope organisation gathered at Siyazama Community Garden in Mandela Park to sell their production on Monday 22 June.
The group of 60 young farmers travel from areas including Nyanga, Mfuleni, Gugulethu and Philippi.
Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Sibulele Mangcoto says the sale was also a marketing day. He said they meet every Monday in the same venue to sell their fresh, organic vegetables.
“As from Sunday until Wednesday each farmer has to report to our administrator and inform her what they have (kind of veggies). After the administrator has done to collect the list she informs the buyers what kind of veggies that we have for the market and the buyers come and buy it,” he explained.
Mangcoto said by planting vegetables they also promote living a healthy lifestyle adding that many people are getting sick because of what they are consuming.
“If everyone can stick to the diet and eat healthy there will be no long queues in the clinics. People are getting sick because they don’t look after themselves,” he explained.
Some of their challenges they are encountering in their various areas is theft, not having enough garden equipment, shortage of water and transport for their production.
One of the farmers, Nolitha Sibobosi, from Khayelitsha said being a farmer changed her lifestyle. She said she started farming after she lost her job during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I’m diabetic. And being a farmer makes my life easier because I eat healthy all the time. Also I’m able to put food on the table for my family,” said Sibobosi.
She stated that besides selling their produce on market day they also sell it in the community.
She stated that there is money in agriculture. However, she stated that farming needs passion and dedication.
“We need young people to join us. So that when we are retiring they will take over. Our children don’t take agriculture seriously,they look down at it,” she said.
