What started as a desperate act of survival has blossomed into one of the Eastern Cape’s most inspiring agricultural success stories. Vuyisa Ngcukana, a former HR student-turned-farming pioneer, has transformed bare soil into a flourishing seedling empire and is now also making a mark in the grain industry – all without a formal background in agriculture.
By Lebogang Mashala, Editor at African Farming
Vuyisa Ngcukana’s story is one of grit, growth, and grounded ambition. From an underpaid corporate worker to a high-impact seedling and grain producer, his journey demonstrates that you don’t need to be born into farming or even study it formally to succeed. What you do need is vision, resilience, and the right support system.
In 2006, Vuyisa faced a crossroads. Disillusioned by corporate life in Johannesburg and burdened by financial hardship, he returned to his family’s smallholding just outside Mthatha with little more than ambition and a desire to survive. With no capital, no agricultural background, and no clear plan, he decided to spend the limited money he had on 7 000 spinach seedlings. That humble decision marked the start of a remarkable journey – one that would see him grow from backyard gardener to one of the Eastern Cape’s most impactful emerging farmers.
Today, Ngcukana’s business, Uphuhliso Lwethu Farming, produces more than 2.2 million vegetable seedlings annually, supplying hawkers, cooperatives, and commercial farmers across the province. And he’s only getting started. With grain farming now added to his repertoire, he’s set his sights on expanding to 300 hectares and eventually purchasing his land.
From Corporate Life to Agriculture
Farming was never part of Vuyisa’s plan. “In my schooldays, working in the garden was a punishment. If you misbehaved, that’s where you’d be sent,” he laughs.
After finishing his education, he pursued a diploma in human resources management at the former Technikon (now Durban University of Technology), but financial challenges forced him to drop out. He entered the corporate world, initially in Durban and later in Johannesburg, where his job title looked impressive on paper, but his pay cheque told a different story.
Also read: From finance to top beef farmer
“I was living in an almost empty flat, working long hours for a salary that couldn’t sustain me. I knew I needed a change,” he recalls. That change came in the form of a one-way ticket home.
Planting the First Seeds
Back in Mthatha and nearly broke, Vuyisa considered various business ideas, including starting a website development company, but he lacked the funds to start. “The only thing I could afford to buy was seeds,” he says.
Without any knowledge of fertilisers or proper planting methods, he planted 7 000 spinach seedlings in his backyard. To his surprise, they flourished. He sold out quickly and was stunned by both the demand and the feedback.
“When I tried to replant, I couldn’t find seedlings within 100km. That gap in the market pushed me to start producing seedlings myself,” he says.
By 2007, Uphuhliso Lwethu Farming’s first seedling nursery was operational in his backyard. Within a year, he had scaled up to producing 250 000 seedlings.
Today, his operation supplies a wide range of crops, mainly cabbage, spinach, beetroot, cauliflower, and peppers, to clients across the province, from Cala and Ngcobo to Lusikisiki, Tsomo, and Butterworth.
What started as a survival tactic soon turned into a calling.
“I started farming to raise money for other businesses I wanted to pursue. But the feedback I received from customers made me realise I had a real chance at something meaningful here,” says Vuyisa. Retailers like Fruit & Veg City (now Food Lover’s Market) and Spar soon recognised the quality of his produce, affirming his natural talent for growing crops despite having had no formal training.
What changed the game, however, was the realisation that the nursery business was seasonal. “In winter, things dry up. I needed to find a way to keep cash flowing throughout the year,” he says.
Enter the Grain Game
That opportunity arose through Jay Jay Farming, a customer, who introduced him to Ukhanyo Farmer Development (UFD), a non-profit established by commercial farmer Sinelizwi Fakade to assist smallholder farmers in transitioning to commercial production.
“UFD transformed everything. They help us access mechanisation, inputs, training, and markets. They’ve established relationships with tractor companies like John Deere, which allows us to lease tractors for three years with an option to buy, and we only pay after the harvest,” explains Vuyisa.
Also read: Bird hunters: An undeniable solution for crop and grain farmers
In 2022, with support from UFD and access to communal land through the local tribal authority, Vuyisa cultivated his first 25 hectares of yellow maize. The following season, he increased the area to 35 hectares. By the 2024/25 season, he had secured a production loan to expand to 65 hectares of white maize and 50 hectares of soybeans.
International company PepsiCo sources white maize for its maize meal brands. Although the soya didn’t produce the expected results due to late inputs and heavy rains, Vuyisa remains optimistic. “We only harvested about one tonne per hectare, but that was our learning curve. Next season will be better.”
Scaling Through Partnerships
Access to land remains a challenge for many black farmers in South Africa. Still, Vuyisa credits the progressive tribal leadership in Mthatha for helping emerging farmers take advantage of underused communal land.
“The Chief has been our biggest supporter. He encourages landowners to lease land to those willing to work it.”
Currently, Vuyisa farms 110 hectares but has access to an additional 190 hectares of land. The rental model is straightforward: R1 000 per hectare per year. However, with limited resources, he hasn’t yet been able to plant the full 300 hectares. He plans to do so gradually and eventually purchase his farm through the government’s blended finance scheme.
“I’m not part of the youth anymore, so most programmes don’t cater for people like me. That’s why partnerships like UFDs are so important; they fill in the gaps and help farmers like me scale up,” he says.
Lessons From the Field
Despite his success, farming on communal land brings its own set of challenges, especially the lack of fencing and post-harvest access to the fields.
“Once we harvest, the land becomes open again and is often overrun by animals, leading to soil compaction and poor conditions for the next season,” he explains.
To reduce these risks, the farmers collectively employ rangers on horseback to guard the fields seven days a week. After planting, they also hire locals to monitor the crops, contributing to local job creation.
On the technical side, he’s also recognised the importance of timing and preparation.
“Late input deliveries delay everything. If we could sort out these logistics, we could significantly improve yields. Still, despite all the challenges, we’ve increased our yield from four to six tonnes per hectare on maize. We’re moving in the right direction.”
The Road Ahead
Vuyisa is committed to unlocking the full potential of the 300 hectares of land he has access to and ultimately moving from leasing to owning the land. “That’s the dream. Buying our farm will give us long-term security and enable us to invest in equipment like our own combine harvester, so we’re not reliant on contractors.”
He’s also passionate about inspiring others to recognise the value of agriculture, not just as a way of survival, but as a route to wealth creation. “I never thought I’d be a farmer, but now I can’t imagine doing anything else. Agriculture isn’t just about growing food, it’s about building something that can support families, employ communities, and generate intergenerational wealth.” As he looks to the future, Vuyisa remains connected to his community while aiming for growth. His story is not just about farming; it’s about transformation. And if the past 18 years are anything to go by, the best is still to come.
Also read: KZN farmers: Apply now for free farm inputs and mechanisation help
