Africa-Press – Eswatini. “Farming is in my DNA,” says Thembelihle Tfwala, a small scale farmer from Lavundlamanti now based in Lobamba. He grows vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, cabbage, onions, and beetroot using organic methods. Balancing his farm with a job at Happy Valley Casino, Tfwala aims to expand his farm and even supply markets beyond Eswatini.
Farming has been part of Tfwala’s life since childhood. His father was a cotton farmer, but he died when Tfwala was only five. Even at school, he excelled in agriculture. Later, while living with his uncle in Bhunya, he discovered that his uncle loved farming too, which inspired him even more. He enjoyed raising animals and experimenting with crops, trying out parsley, broccoli, and cornflower, vegetables that were uncommon at the time.
Tfwala’s journey has not been without challenges. He once lost land he had been farming, forcing him to find work elsewhere. Even while renting, he would create small gardens wherever he could. At one point, he farmed vegetables in old basins and car tyres. What started as a personal hobby soon attracted neighbours who wanted to buy his produce.
His breakthrough came when an elder lent him a piece of land last year. Guided by fellow farmer Mfanfikile Nkambule, he switched to organic farming, which proved to be cheaper and effective. Training from Equipping Farmers International gave him more insight into sustainable techniques, which he now applies in his garden.
Today, Tfwala uses natural manure, mulching, and traditional methods instead of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. He even prepares his own seedlings, saying store bought ones take longer to adapt to organic methods. Despite the physical demands, farming calms him. “Even when I am stressed, I go to my farm to refresh. It is therapeutic,” he says.
Balancing a full time job and farming is tough. He inspects his garden in the mornings for pests and relies on a business partner to manage sales and watering when he is at work. Losing land in the past, especially when crops like maize were not ready for harvest, was a painful setback. He also wishes for more support from stores and the wider community, noting that stronger backing could help farmers make real profits.
Tfwala’s vision is big. He hopes to expand production, employ others, and one day supply markets outside the country. He encourages young people to start farming, even small, saying: “It is better to fail after trying than not to start at all. Don’t waste money on seedlings, buy seeds and prepare your own beds. Find people who can share knowledge with you.”
For Thembelihle Tfwala, farming is more than a job. It is a lifelong passion rooted in family, faith, and perseverance. From planting vegetables in old buckets to running a growing organic farm, he shows that with dedication and creativity, small beginnings can grow into something much bigger.
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