Despite growing up more than 100km apart in Matatiele and eMaXesibeni, Menzi Mdashe and Solethu Dlembula shared many similarities.
They were not only born in the same year, but while other young boys in their villages enjoyed playing soccer, they would spend most of their time tending to livestock.
And as they grew up, they dreamed of becoming farmers in their own right.
They had no clue that in a few years they would be running their own farming enterprise.
However, instead of rearing “the normal” kind of animals one would find on a farm, they have started their own beekeeping business, Agri Mdashe Dlembula Beekeeping.
They said they had not even heard of beekeeping a few years ago.
I always thought bees were dangerous. So, I was kind of surprised when I found out one could actually run a farm where they only kept bees
That was until they were introduced to it while doing their practicals in Kokstad at Winston Farm, owned by Craig Robinson, while studying farming management.
“I always thought bees were dangerous. So, I was kind of surprised when I found out one could actually run a farm where they only kept bees,” Dlembula said.
Born in Phepheni village in rural eMaXesibeni 29 years ago, Dlembula is now working at a dairy farm in Texas in the US.
He credits his father for instilling his love for animals and agriculture.
“He owned anything, from cattle to sheep, goats, pigs and chickens and still does to this day.
“After school, we had to go and collect animals from the veld and on weekends we were always out there looking after the livestock.
“I never got time to play soccer or partake in village games played by other young boys.”
When he enrolled at Ikhala TVET College’s Nonesi Campus near Komani to study farm management, he had already started his own piggery at his home.
When doing his practicals at Winston Farm, which is a dairy farm, he was surprised to discover that Robinson was also involved in beekeeping.
“I learnt they [bees] were very important to farmers because of cross-pollination.
“They also produce honey which can be extracted and used for medicinal purposes.”
Mdashe, who grew up in Sidakeni village in Matatiele, enrolled for a farming management qualification at Umfolozi College in KwaZulu-Natal in 2015.
He met Dlembula during their internship in 2019.
“I was never good in soccer and spent most of my time tending to livestock.
“Even my father often would tease me about my love for animals and say one day I would probably run my own farm like a true Afrikaner man.
“I grew up thinking I would manage my own farm specialising in crop production and livestock.
“I had no clue that I would one day become a beekeeper,” Mdashe said.
Robinson not only schooled them on the important role of bees, but also taught them how to properly construct beehives and harvest honey.
The two young farmers recently celebrated receiving equipment from the Umzimvubu Local Municipality, which included a honey extractor and protective clothing.
The municipality also sent them for training in Johannesburg on advanced beekeeping methods.
Umzimvubu mayor Zukiswa Ndevu confirmed the municipality had sponsored the young beekeepers and assisted them with registering their co-operative, training, mentoring and with bee farming equipment totalling R189,000.
“Government support for businesses owned by young people is crucial as it encourages them to start their own ventures, become owners and employers and contribute to the local economic development of the area.
“Additionally, skills development is a priority for us as the municipality,” she said.
Ndevu said the municipality had assisted many youth-owned enterprises in the last five years, ranging from poultry and livestock production, bee farming, charcoal, aloe and peach production, and even street trading.
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