UFH Agricultural Economics graduate, Thembakazi Sikundla – a farmer with big dreams

A desire to grow affordable nutritious food for her community, South Africans and neigbouring nations has propelled Thembakazi Sikundla, a UFH Agricultural Economics graduate, to start her own farming business - La-Tesh Pty Ltd.

Thembakazi from Esigangala village in Centane in the Eastern Cape started her farming business after completing her studies at UFH in 2017. She runs the farm on family land that was given to her by her father where she started with cultivating vegetable gardens to now farming with livestock.

Over the years she has built a market in the town of Centane supplying the local Boxer Superstore, the Spar Supermarket, and other informal stores and stalls.

“With the remainder of the produce, I temporarily hire young people from my community, often school dropouts, to establish and run vegetable stands. I know how it feels to have no options.”

Thembakazi recently shared her inspiring story with Food For Mzansi (Brave Sikundla dusts herself off and tries again - Food For Mzansi) where she opened up about bouncing back from the impact of the Covid-19 virus, growth obstacles and her vision to become a  successful farmer in the agro-processing industry.