In light of women’s month, the KZN Department of Agriculture is on a mission to showcase thriving agricultural projects headed by women. Lindokuhle Ngubane, took over the ownership of Tsar Beef farm in Franklin, near Kokstad with just a few livestock in 2015. Within five years, she has managed to multiply her livestock and employed six people permanently, thanks to the R4 million investment made by the Agricultural Development Agency.
Ngubane’s farm was officially launched as part of the women-owned agricultural project as the country embrace women impact. “The launch of a 100% black women-owned farm affirms that women have the power to change their situations. They deserve land as a matter of urgency to ensure that programmes developed by the government are implemented successfully, “added Sithole-Moloi.
During the launch, Ngubane expressed her gratitude for the investment she received which enabled her to buy all the necessary equipment. “We managed to build a feedlot, we bought production stock as a start-up. This has enabled us to multiply our production and we hope to achieve more and assist other people,” she said.
Furthermore, Bongi Sithole-Moloi praised Ngubane for her fortitude saying it was evidence that women deserved more opportunities. She called for land to be redistributed among women as a solution for a transformed agricultural sector. The MEC said it was unfair that while the women were a majority within the agricultural sector, yet they remained at the edge of the economy and land allocation.
“These are the women that dispel the general narratives that woman cannot do it for themselves, that farming is in white men’s genes, that running a business is in the male genes and that it was better off during apartheid government,” added Sithole-Moloi.
