An Eastern Cape entrepreneur who has successfully established his own agricultural company from scratch, drew inspiration from his family’s farming traditions.
The first-year agribusiness student is involved in livestock, piggery and crop farming, and sells wood near Bhisho.
Lihlumelo Gqegqe, who started his business, Sthathu Agricon, in 2022, also offers expert agricultural consulting services.
“We help people with agriculture processes, we educate them on what the market looks like, we charge for liaisons or linkages with good breeding stock, and we help people find livestock at affordable prices,” he said.
His decision to venture into agriculture was influenced by his family.
“I grew up around farmers.
“When I was young I used to go to Mthatha, where my grandparents — my father’s dad and mom — stay, where they extensively farmed cattle, goats, sheep, poultry, piggery and crops, mainly maize.”
“I grew up with the love and knowledge passed down from my grandfather to my father and enhanced it with modern technology and attributes.
“I am also studying agribusiness and I am an agronomist consultant.
“I’m also eager to venture more into the economic sector of agriculture but for now I am trying to grow my company from the ground up,” he said.
Working with animals was something he loved and had motivated him to get involved in agriculture.
“It was nothing but the love for animals and what they give you when you show them care and love.
“It is a great investment. One cow that is taken care of medically, and with the necessary supplements and nutrition, can give you seven or eight calves.
“With selling wood, I realised there was a huge gap in the market.
“I believe unemployment is a decision because we all have skills we just need to enhance,” he said, adding people needed wood for events such as weddings.
The entrepreneur said farming was not without its challenges.
“Without funding you lack implementation and cannot diversify until you have enough capital.
“Another challenge is droughts because I don’t have water on the land. I rely on rain water.”
However, he said working towards his dream of expanding his business was not a difficult task because of his family’s support.
“It’s not hard because the whole family is familiar with each other’s goals and objectives, balance isn’t hard because the farm isn’t far from where the family stays.
“With the fluctuating weather and market, it is a bit hard but I wish to take control of my own value chain and become my own supplier, distributor and retailer.
“That’s simply by investing more capital in the business, and upscaling, given the opportunity, and implementing new adaptations and moving with the market.”
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