BY NONCEDO SHABANGU
MBABANE- Rose Seyama, a 45 year old woman of Ntondozi, did not take up farming out of choice or passion ,it was a necessity born from the loss of her parents. With no one to support her, she turned to farming as the only way to provide food and income to sustain her family.
That need for survival is what drove her to start growing sweet potatoes. It was a practical choice sweet potatoes don’t require much input, only water, and they perform well during harvest. Her first harvest went well. She managed to sell the produce and used the money to buy a fence for her small plot, which is less than a hectare in size.
Encouraged by the success of her sweet potatoes, Rose expanded into other vegetables commonly used in her community. She began planting tomatoes, cabbages, lettuce, and spinach, all grown from the same piece of land. Her goal was simple: feed her family and sell enough to meet basic needs.
“In the beginning, the local people supported me a lot,” she explains. “But as the number of farmers increased in the area, the support became divided.” Today, she continues to receive support from both the community and from street vendors in Mahlanya, who buy her vegetables regularly.
What keeps Rose going is the constant reminder of what her family needs. “I have a need. I need the basics,” she says. “As I farm and sell, I am able to buy soap, electricity, and other household needs.” She adds that farming has also saved her from having to buy vegetables from the market, where prices are often high.
While the money earned has not been large, it has made a real difference. “The money was not that good,” she admits, “but I was able to pay for my kids’ school fees, buy them uniforms, polish, and even give them pocket money when going to school.” Some of her children have completed Form 5, and she is proud that she could meet their needs through her work in the fields.
For Rose, farming is not just a means to an income, it is a discipline. “It is important to wake up in the morning and go hustle,” she says firmly. “Even the Bible does not favour lazy people. It is declared that those who love sleeping all day will be poor.” She believes the work requires mental strength. “It’s not easy, but it needs you to counsel yourself on why you are doing this.”
She started with very little and has never had the chance to employ others due to the small size of her land. However, her children help when they can, learning by doing. “For them, they know how we live here at home. If we wake up to the fields, they know what to do.”
Although she has made it work, challenges remain. Business can be slow, and like all farmers, she is bound by the seasons. “For instance, when lettuce is ready for harvest, it needs to be harvested now. If not, you make a loss because it time passes.” She also struggles with input costs. Even when she can afford seedlings, getting fertilisers is not always possible. “Everything you want to grow needs capital. Because of the expenditure, as I pay my family bills, I have never reached the level of investing for drier seasons but I live.”
Despite these challenges, she encourages others to consider farming. “It is important to start farming. It can help you earn a living,” she advises. “Vegetables are a must in a diet as they are healthy. To everyone start something and feed your family.”
Rose Seyama may not have acres of land or heavy equipment, but she has something even more powerful, a strong will, a hardworking spirit, and deep love for her family. Through every season, she continues to farm with purpose and pride proving that even from pain, growth is possible.
(Courtesy Pics)
