- Lakhe Mangena, aged 23, started farming in December 2023 and now supplies major supermarkets while building his business from scratch.
- Despite lacking equipment like a tractor and water pump, he keeps going and plans to employ more than 50 young people.
Lakhe Mangena, a 23-year-old from Flagstaff in the Eastern Cape, has chosen farming over finishing his studies.
He was studying Electrical Engineering up to N4 in Cape Town between 2022 and 2023. But in December 2023, he made a big decision to leave it behind.
Mangena says he was inspired by the idea of growing his own food and building something that could help others.
“I started farming in December 2023, and I was inspired by homesteading and growing my own food. I will not continue with electrical engineering as I am now focusing on farming because I want to create a job for so many young people who are unemployed,” he said.
Starting was not easy. Mangena says he had no proper equipment and still does not own key tools needed for farming.
“There are so many challenges in farming, especially when you are new. I don’t have the material for farming things like a tractor, I am hiring someone who is owning tractors. I don’t have a machine to get water from the river, that’s why I am using a tank.”
He uses a tank to collect water when it rains. When it is hot, he pays someone to fetch water for him, which costs him money.
“When it is hot I hire someone to get water for me so now I am using a lot of money but I am not really complaining because I know that I am still new and I will get my things as things goes by,” he said.
Mangena says he learnt farming at home while growing up and also picked up skills on social media.
He now supplies stores like Spar and Boxer, as well as local traders and community members.
He sells cabbage for R20, spinach and green pepper for R15 a bunch, and a bag of potatoes for R65.
“I am happy and grateful to the support I am getting from everyone, and I will keep growing my business so that I can supply more supermarkets. The plan is to hire more than 50 people, the rate of unemployment is too high, and we all need to play our part,” he said.
Pictured above: Young farmer Lakhe Mangena from Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape.
Image source: Lakhe Mangena
