Africa-Press – Eswatini. Sthembile Dlamini of Ntondozi, knows farming is more than chasing profits. “Farming is a calling. You don’t have to quit when it is hard,” she says, recalling how she turned years of nursery work and mentorship into her own thriving seedling business, despite challenges like limited capital and unpredictable markets.
Sthembile’s journey in farming began in her childhood home, where farming was a way of life for family consumption. But her career truly took shape when she joined Vickery Seedlings in 2007. For eight years, until 2015, she immersed herself in the nursery world, learning the fine details of plant care and farm management. Later, she gained further knowledge at Highgrade, where she saw firsthand how new farmers navigate their beginnings.
Today, she farms in Ntondozi, eMahlabatsini, while living in Malkerns. She specialises in seedlings, selling them when there’s a market and planting them herself when demand slows. Her two years of independent farming build on nearly a lifetime of nursery work, equipping her with the adaptability needed to keep going.
Challenges remain constant. “Market availability is one of the biggest obstacles, and capital is another,” she admits. Limited funds meant she could not start at the scale she envisioned, but she made do with what she had in her pocket. For Sthembile, the key has been perseverance: “Storms are part of farming, bad weather will come, but when it affects you, don’t quit.”
She draws guidance from experienced farmers like Cebi Vilakati, who runs a nursery and often advises her. Her family has also stood by her, lending both encouragement and labour. Neighbours in the area sometimes help when the workload grows heavy, showing the spirit of community that underpins her success.
Looking ahead, Sthembile dreams of owning a bigger farm where she can expand freely and farm exactly the way she envisions. Her advice to aspiring farmers reflects her own journey: “Love farming more than the results. Start with what you have, research your market first, and remember, profits and losses are both part of the journey. Don’t just look for good results; farming comes with risks too.”
Through long days, unpredictable markets, and hard lessons, Sthembile Dlamini shows what courage and passion look like.
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