BUTTERWORTH– In the face of rising unemployment and crime in rural communities, a group of young people from Butterworth have taken an inspiring stand by turning to agriculture. UlutshaLendalo Agriculture, a youth-owned cooperative farm was established in 2019 by four determined young people; Xola Ntshinga, Antony Phiri, Busiswa Ntshinga and Ongezwa Vuza.
Now in its sixth year of operation, the farm is not only producing fresh vegetables but also creating jobs and food security for local communities.
The founders were motivated by the lack of job opportunities in their area, which they say often pushes young people toward crime and other destructive paths. “We saw that many young people were unemployed and struggling with poverty,” says Xola Ntshinga, who serves as the farm’s secretary and marketing manager.
Ntshinga added, “That’s when we decided to create UlutshaLendalo Agriculture, to provide jobs, fight hunger and contribute positively to society.”
Situated on 15 hectares of land, UlutshaLendalo produces a variety of crops including cabbages, spinach, butternuts, potatoes, peppers and pumpkins. Plans are also underway to expand the farm to 531 hectares, which would significantly boost production and employment opportunities.
Furthermore the farm supplies fresh produce to several local supermarkets in Butterworth and Dutywa, including Spargs, SuperSpar, KwikSpar, MiniSpar, Monwabisi Mini Market and Boxer stores. While the cooperative has seen great success, it is not without its challenges. “Climate change, market fluctuations and resource constraints make things difficult,” Ntshinga admits. “But we remain committed to producing quality vegetables and growing our impact.”
In addition UlutshaLendalo Agriculture has become a shining example of how young people can lead community development and economic transformation through sustainable farming.
Their vision goes beyond food production they aim to inspire other youth to find solutions within their own communities. “Despite the odds, we decided to take action,” Ntshinga said. “Now our farm is one of the most successful in the Eastern Cape.”
Photograph: Supplied
