Imbizo 2026 | Stop working in your business and start working on your business – Sizo Tshabalala, founder of Tshabalala Foods

The distinction between a farmer and an agripreneur isn’t just semantic, it’s a fundamental shift in mindset that could determine the future of South Africa’s agricultural sector.

By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming

This was the compelling message delivered by Sizo Tshabalala, founder of Tshabalala Foods, as he addressed farmers and stakeholders at the recent African Farming Agri-Development Imbizo 2026 at Time Square Hotel in Pretoria.

The Farmer’s Dilemma

“A farmer solves bread-and-butter problems,” Tshabalala explains. “You want to farm so you can eat or take care of day-to-day expenses. But the growth is very restricted because you’re working in the business instead of working on the business.”

This survival mode mentality limits scalability and creates businesses that depend entirely on the owner’s presence. Tshabalala learnt this the hard way in 2015 when 39 of his 41 pregnant goats suffered miscarriages, losing 60 to 70 kids. “I thought I was going to make so much money, then when they started dying, I was like, ‘My God, what is this?’ I only understood later that I was being prepared for hardships that come in life.”

The Agripreneur Advantage

The agripreneur, by contrast, “starts with the end in mind”, according to Tshabalala. “We look for the market before we start planting or producing.” This market-first approach prevents costly mistakes like his own experience with spinach – his beautiful crops couldn’t find buyers because he hadn’t researched the demand.

“It’s very important to start with the market,” he emphasises. “When you plant or produce, you know where your product is going, instead of just doing it for the sake of doing it.”

Diversification proved crucial when Covid-19 hit. Tshabalala’s Spar contract was terminated the same week his farm manager disappeared, his family lost a baby and weather prevented farm access. “This taught me about the importance of mindset,” he reflects.

Also read: Imbizo 2026 | Farmer Sizo Tshabalala shares pain, perseverance and rising again

Building for Success

The agripreneur mindset extends to compliance and systems. Tshabalala outlines essentials: Business registration with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), proper banking, tax clearance, certificates of acceptability and comprehensive record-keeping.

“Data informs you,” he says. “Last year’s data tells you how you should operate going forward. You can’t connect future dots if you ignore the past lines you’ve already been through.”

His governance approach includes a board of directors, with his wife handling administration and his brother providing strategic oversight. “I focus on my strengths while they handle areas where I’m weak.”

The Power of Relationships

Social media presence is crucial. A chance Shoprite encounter led to a tractor purchase when a manager recognised Tshabalala from his online content. “What we do online reflects what we do outside,” he notes.

Also read: In our latest magazine: Sizo Tshabalala

Strong supplier relationships proved to be a life-saver during Covid-19 when feed suppliers offered credit during cash flow challenges. “It’s very important to build relationships that last,” says Tshabalala.

Looking Ahead: The Next Decade

Tshabalala predicts that agriculture will become increasingly compliance-driven, market-focused and collaboration-dependent. “We can’t win when we work as individuals. Commercial farmers move as a team; we have to create these networks.”

Climate-smart farming, biosecurity measures and value chain integration will dominate. His investment in egg tray manufacturing equipment demonstrates forward-thinking supply chain control.

Breaking Down Barriers

Tshabalala advocates for unity over division. “These conversations must be less about race and more about growing the sector. We have to open ourselves up and say, ‘My name is Sizo, I’m struggling here,’ or ‘I can help you here.’”

He sees current global conflicts creating food security opportunities, but only if South African farmers organise effectively. “All this food going out should be structured so that we make our country food secure.”

Faith and Resilience

Despite multiple setbacks, Tshabalala maintains what colleagues describe as a “glass half full” approach. His emphasis on physical exercise as mental preparation reflects this resilience: “When you push your limits through exercise, external stress becomes manageable because you’re constantly challenging yourself personally.”

The message is clear: Transforming from farmer to agripreneur requires more than changing business practices. It demands a fundamental shift in thinking – from survival to strategy, from isolation to collaboration and from reactive to proactive approaches.

As Tshabalala concludes, “The structured, market-focused entrepreneurs will be rewarded. Moving together as a team, having structure and focusing on satisfying the market – that’s what will grow the sector.”

African Farming Agri-Development Imbizo 2026

The African Farming Agri-Development Imbizo 2026 took place on 26 and 27 March at Time Square Hotel in Pretoria. This two-day event brought together more than 200 farmers, agribusiness entrepreneurs, policymakers, financiers and industry leaders. The goal was 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.