Yondela Gqoli reaps what he sows

Yondela Gqoli (27) is a young farmer from Umzimvubu Local Municipality in Mount Frere (kwaBhaca). He encourages young people to get into agriculture like he did, leaving behind his youthful antics.

“My reason for getting involved in farming was because I noticed people eat food every day, and that food comes from somewhere so people can eat,” said Gqoli.

Gqoli has a BSc Honours in Plant and Soil Sciences.

“Due to my love for agriculture, I saw myself studying this degree, and it comes in handy in my daily work as a crop farmer,” said Gqoli.

He says the best encouragement he can give to the youth is to dedicate themselves to learning as much as possible.

“I want to tell the youth in order to be successful in agriculture they have to learn everything that is related to what they want to do,” Gqoli advises.

He says it is important to start crop and livestock farming with what you have or what you can afford.

“Over time, the farmer will see themself reach new heights of farming if they start with what they have and not try to get what they cannot afford,” explained Gqoli.

As a result of a lack of land, Gqoli started crop farming on small land but like any Black farmer, he endured and did not give up.

“I plant my crops on two hectares of land, all of this is because of planning things well and resilience,” said Gqoli.

There is a notion that young people are not interested in agriculture because they associate agriculture with dirtiness.

“To start farming while you are young is very important because you get the opportunity to prepare for the future while preventing future problems,” said Gqoli.

This young farmer says he plants cabbage, spinach and potatoes with his colleagues in the farming business in Mount Frere.

“The main goal is to sell in large markets, so that we can hire more people than we have employed currently,” said Gqoli.

He says the long-term plan is to enter the global markets and sell his vegetable products.

“I want to export my products to Western countries. In fact, Mozambique is one of the countries we want to export to since there is a demand for potatoes,” said Gqoli.

Gqoli did his agricultural studies at the old agricultural institution, Fort Cox in Middledrift. He later studied at the Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha.

“I am the founder of AgriHlubi and its objective is to develop young emerging Black farmers,” said Gqoli.

He believes that agriculture is the right way to improve the financial situation of the poor.