- The Mthatha mother started KhashAgri-business in September 2024 after struggling to find work despite having three qualifications.
- She sells affordable vegetables to residents and vendors but needs fencing to protect her garden and help her business grow.
After more than 10 years of searching for work, Khanyisa Ncamiso decided to stop waiting and start planting.
The 40-year-old graduate from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape now grows vegetables to feed her family and earn an income.
“In September 2024, I started a business called KhashAgri-business, growing potatoes, spinach, cabbage, maize, carrots, and onions,” said Ncamiso.
She has a national diploma in Cost and Management, a technical diploma in Accounting and a BCompt in Accounting.
But those qualifications have not opened the doors she hoped they would.
“I have been looking for work for more than 10 years. In all these years, I only managed to get an internship in 2024/2025,” she said.
Ncamiso never imagined she would become a farmer.
“I turned to farming after realising that I might not get employment anytime soon because the number of graduates who are looking for work keeps increasing. With the money I make, I can take care of my family,” she said.
She sells her produce to community members and vendors, while keeping some to feed her household.
“I am still new to this but I keep pushing because my family is looking up to me. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself while waiting for job opportunities,” said Ncamiso.
Her immediate challenge is getting a fence to protect the garden.
“There is a lot of assistance that I need; for example, I need someone to assist me with a fence to protect the garden that I am using to plant vegetables,” she said.
With support, she hopes to expand, hire workers and take her vegetables into town.
“I want this business to grow so that I can become a distributor for big supermarkets and local shops,” she said.
For her customers, the garden offers some relief from food prices.
Nolungisa Ngilane, 45, said buying from Ncamiso helps stretch her household budget.
“Firstly, her prices are affordable. In the supermarkets, sometimes we buy cabbage for R30 and more, so we are not only supporting her but she’s also saving us money,” said Ngilane.
Another customer, Zimasa Mbana, is also a graduate struggling to find work. She supports Ncamiso because she understands the frustration.
“Sadly, we have qualifications but we cannot use them; they are just a reminder that we spent money studying but we have nothing to show,” said Mbana.
She said Ncamiso’s prices make a difference when money is tight.
“I like her vegetables. We buy spinach for R15 and four green peppers for R14, so she’s affordable, especially for people like me who are depending on piece jobs or grant money,” said Mbana.
