Speakers Inc Magazine, Volume 2

to the lease agreement, Nwoko is entitled to use the equipment and some of the existing
According
on the farm; this includes a tractor, plough, tunnels and irrigation equipment. These had all
infrastructure
purchased previously with assistance from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
been
Mam’ Beauty had also invested some of her own money in the business.
although
Nwoko first started cultivating the land, she took soil samples to the Agriculture Research Council,
When
supplied her with a list of suitable crops. Fortunately, the seedlings she had ordered were all
who
on the list. She then approached a fertiliser company based in Bryanston, Sandton, which put
included
in contact with an agronomist, who in turn advised her on a fertiliser and planting programme.
her
her first planting cycle, she planted spinach in July, cabbages in August and peppers in September
For
the help of Mam’ Beauty, who allowed her to use her labourers and even assisted with the planting.
with
also made friends with experienced neighbouring farmers, who helped and advised her.
She
you’re a female farmer, it’s difficult for male farmers to open up to you, but I kept asking for help
“When
they offered me assistance,” she says. This included information on farm management, farmworker
until
and weather patterns.
wages,
says that by mid-August her landlord had seen her
Nwoko
and, wishing to retire, offered her a 10-year
determination
on the entire farm.
lease
more land at her disposal, she planted pepper
With
in one of the tunnels, and soon expanded to six of
seedlings
10 tunnels.
the
Green Terrace grows a variety of crops such as
Today,
green peppers, baby marrow and green beans,
spinach,
are supplied to leading retailers such as Food Lover’s
which
as well as the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market.
Market,
says that she has reinvested most of her profit in the
Nwoko
where it has been used to construct a packhouse, as
farm,
September 2016, when her first round of crops was almost
In
for harvest, Nwoko attended a farmer’s day at the
ready
Fresh Produce Market.
Johannesburg
she met a senior representative from Food Lover’s
Here
and told him about her business. She followed up
Market
an email, providing details of her crops and how much
with
each she was producing.
of
Lover’s Market responded by arranging a farm visit by a
Food
buyer and their group head of sustainability, Andrew
senior
Millson.
they visited the farm, they asked about supplier
“When
such as a refrigerated truck, a packing house
requirements
whether I had any certification standards in place, which
and
didn’t,” Nwoko recalls. “My only vehicle for delivery was my
I
friend’s van. Despite these challenges, I was able to
father’s
an agreement whereby I would supply Food Lover’s
reach
with 300 bunches of spinach a day. I could supply 3
Market
bunches a week, so I also started supplying the hawkers’
500
also put her in touch with Solidaridad, an
Millson
organisation committed to the development of
international
and ecologically responsible supply chains. This in
socially
connected her with the LIMA Rural Development
turn
which sent an agronomist twice a week to
Foundation,
free technical assistance.
provide
late October 2016, Nwoko started supplying other retail
In
with spinach and peppers.
outlets
this time she was supplying 2 000 bunches of spinach a
By
week.
ESTABLISHING THE BUSINESS
FOOD LOVER’S MARKET
well as to repair the tunnels.
market in Katlehong with spinach at R10 a bunch.”
10