At the African Farming Agri-Development Imbizo 2026, Sizo Tshabalala from Tshabalala Foods shared a raw truth every farmer needs to hear. His voice broke as he recounted the perfect storm that nearly destroyed everything.

By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming

Picture this: Tonnes of spinach rotting because markets were saturated, a major buyer dropping his contract after competitor interference, losing a baby during production, his farm manager abandoning ship, and then nature’s final blow – heavy rain making roads impassable while trucks sat stranded, unable to collect eggs or deliver feed.

“We couldn’t pay employees. Lightning knocked out power. No water. Vehicles broke down. Everything hit us the same week,” Sizo recalled.

But here’s the powerful truth: These disasters don’t destroy you; they transform you. They force you to evolve from reactive farmer to strategic agripreneur. They teach you to start with the market, diversify buyers, build systems and strengthen your mindset.

Sizo’s tears weren’t of defeat; they were of growth. Every setback became a setup for a stronger comeback. His story reminds us: Farming isn’t just about growing crops; it’s about growing resilience and understanding that storms often clear the path to your greatest victories.

Watch out for the full story of Tshabalala’s presentation coming soon on www.africanfarming.com.

African Farming Agri-Development Imbizo 2026

The African Farming Agri-Development Imbizo 2026 is taking place on 26 and 27 March at Time Square Hotel in Pretoria. This two-day event will bring together more than 200 farmers, agribusiness entrepreneurs, policymakers, financiers and industry leaders. The goal is clear: To align resources, unlock opportunities and strengthen partnerships that will accelerate the growth of South Africa’s new generation of commercial farmers.

Hosted by African Farming, the Imbizo builds on a strong commitment to advancing black commercial agriculture through information-sharing, networking and development-driven platforms.