When you arrive at Vusi Skosana’s farm in Dennilton, the first thing that stands out is the deep green of the cabbage fields. Row after row of healthy-looking cabbages stretch across the land, reflecting careful planning, discipline and consistency. This is not just a vegetable farm; it is also the result of identifying a problem and deliberately building a solution around it.
By Maphuti Mongatane, Business Development Manager at African Farming
For Vusi Skosana, farming was not born out of formal agricultural training, but out of necessity and responsibility. “I didn’t start farming because it sounded good,” he says. “I started because there was a real problem that needed to be fixed.”
An Entrepreneurial Foundation
Vusi grew up in this area, in a family where entrepreneurship was part of everyday life. His father was a businessman, and although not everyone in the family followed that path, the mindset of creating opportunities rather than waiting for them took root early on.
“When you grow up around people who build things for themselves, you learn to see challenges differently,” Vusi says.
That mindset would later become crucial when he began supplying vegetables, cabbages in particular, to schools and local buyers.
Also read: ‘Cabbage lady’ Wendy Moshakga started with nothing but determination
When Supply Becomes the Biggest Challenge
One of the major challenges Vusi encountered was timing. Markets operate on strict schedules, especially on Mondays. If produce is not harvested, stored and delivered at the right time, quality suffers and buyers become dissatisfied.
“If you harvest too early, the cabbage sits too long,” Vusi says. “If you harvest too late, you miss the market. Mondays are critical.”
At the time, schools were his main customers, and complaints about freshness and delayed deliveries began to increase. Instead of accepting this as part of farming, Vusi decided to rethink his entire production and harvesting cycle.
Planning Backwards
The turning point came when he began planning backwards, starting with the market day and working back to planting. Cabbages are now harvested on Fridays or Saturdays, placed immediately into cold storage, and delivered fresh on Monday mornings.
“Since making that change, I’ve never been late. The quality has been consistent, and that’s when I realised this could grow into a real business.”
What started as a small operation has since developed into a structured and reliable farming enterprise.
Land Use, Water Security and Expansion Plans
Vusi currently cultivates between 1,5 and 2 hectares of cabbages, with plans to expand production. The farm is supported by a nearby river, which supplies water for irrigation and feeds into a dam used as a back-up source.
A single pump services both irrigation and water storage, and Vusi is planning to invest in a 250 000-litre water tank to strengthen water security and support future expansion.
“Water is everything in farming,” he says. “If you don’t plan for it early, you limit your growth.”
Also read: The rise of a self-made seedling king
Creating Jobs and Building Skills
Beyond production, the farm plays an important role in local employment. Through a combination of government-supported programmes and his own resources, Vusi employs between five and ten people at any given time, increasing labour during peak planting and harvesting periods.
Workers are involved in all aspects of production, from land preparation and planting to irrigation, harvesting and handling. Many have been with him for a long time, growing their skills alongside the business.
“People stay when they feel valued and involved. We’re building this together,” Vusi says.
Focused on Growth, Not Exit
Unlike farmers who shut down smaller operations when expanding, Vusi is committed to growing what he has already built. He is looking at nearby land, particularly areas closer to water sources, to increase production while keeping the current operation fully functional.
“I don’t want to abandon what’s working,” he says. “I want to strengthen it and build on it.”
A Young Farm with Strong Foundations
The first crops were planted on the farm in March 2024. Despite being a relatively young operation, it has already demonstrated resilience, consistency and strong market discipline. For Vusi, farming is about reliability, planning, and accountability to buyers, workers and the broader food system.
“Opportunities don’t come to you when you wait,” he says. “You have to ask, observe and act.”
Proof of What’s Possible in Communal Farming
In a communal farming space where commercial success is often underestimated, Vusi Skosana’s cabbage operation in Dennilton stands as proof that structure, timing and intention can turn limited land into a sustainable business.
This is not a story of overnight success, but one of thoughtful growth, showing that with the right mindset, even a small farming operation can deliver big results.
Also read:
Matlou siblings’ journey from village farming to commercial success
From backyard spinach to 150ha agricultural enterprise
