South Africa: Urban farmer uses diaspora acquired knowledge for local production
“I don’t just do farming, but smart farming, which literally means utilising a small piece of land to produce high quality yields in huge quantities.
By Mashudu Netsianda
The Chronicle
Mar 1, 2022
Excerpt:
Satenga Farm Produce, whose head office is situated in the Wanezi area of Godlwayo in Insiza District, Matabeleland South, supplies Bulawayo markets, local hotels and schools with fresh farm produce.
Mr Satenga-Dube also owns a vegetable shop in the city and a farm in Wanezi from where he produces bulk supplies.
“I have always loved farming from a young age. I went to South Africa where I worked in several farms and throughout my working life there, I managed to acquire the requisite knowledge, which is what I am now copying and pasting here,” he said.
“I have noticed that most farmers are actually looking for huge farms and big spaces, but I am saying you can actually do wonders even in a small piece of land as long as you apply the correct farming practices. I have managed to make a difference in such a small piece of land.”
From his small piece of land, Mr Satenga-Dube produces hybrid red, green and yellow pepper, peas, tomatoes, cucumber, red onions, beetroot, green mealies and collard greens. Mr Satenga-Dube also produces seedlings for his horticulture project.
“I don’t just do farming, but smart farming, which literally means utilising a small piece of land to produce high quality yields in huge quantities. The quality of the tomatoes that we produce at Satenga Farm can last for up to two weeks before getting bad,” he said.
