Physical disability is not the greatest obstacle to success in agriculture; a defeated mindset is. That was the message from Mpumalanga commercial farmer Sibusiso Mogale at African Farming’s recent Finance for Farmers Workshop in Mpumalanga.
By Lebogang Mashala, editor at African Farming
Born without hands, Sibusiso has built a thriving farming business that supplies fresh produce to retailers such as Boxer, Food Lover’s Market, Checkers and Spar in Mbombela. Addressing emerging farmers at African Farming’s Finance for Farmers Workshop in Acornhoek in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, he urged them to stop waiting for ideal circumstances and instead focus on making the most of every opportunity.
“Being physically disabled is not the worst thing that can happen to a human being; being mentally damaged is far worse,” he said.
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Funding must be matched by commitment
Sibusiso challenged the perception that access to finance alone guarantees farming success.
“A lot of us farmers cry for funding, but once we get the funding, what happens?” he asked. “Many start spending the money on big cars and things that make us look like farmers, but there is no production.”
He encouraged aspiring farmers to build a solid foundation before applying for financial support.
“When you are looking for funding, make sure you are ready for it.”
From back-yard garden to commercial farm
Sibusiso’s farming career began with almost nothing. Unable to afford seedlings, he collected seeds from discarded rotten tomatoes, dried them and planted them in his back yard.
“I started farming with spoilt tomatoes that people had thrown away,” he said. “When the tomatoes grew and I harvested them, I sold them and used the money to buy more seedlings.”
The proceeds enabled him to expand into crops such as spinach and beetroot, and to steadily increase production. He grew vegetables in his back yard for two years before moving to a one-hectare plot near his home.
His passion for agriculture was inspired by his grandmother, Nyamatane Joanne Nkosi, a traditional healer and subsistence farmer who cultivated both medicinal herbs and food for her family. Watching her transform tiny seeds into healthy crops sparked his love for farming.
Turning challenges into opportunities
Born without hands and raised by a single mother, Sibusiso often encountered people who assumed he would remain dependent on others for the rest of his life. He did not allow this perception to define him.
At school, he took part in various sports and excelled in swimming, which earned him a scholarship to attend a private school. He competed in international swimming competitions, including world championships. Then he decided to channel his energy into farming.
His disability meant that routine farming tasks required extraordinary determination. Preparing just one hectare of land with a hoe took him almost two weeks, compared with one or two days for an able-bodied person.
Hiring labour was often beyond his means. “No one wants to help someone for free.”
Despite those challenges, he refused to wait for perfect conditions.
“I still see people who are fully physically able making excuses about why they cannot start farming without funding. Everything you want to achieve depends on how badly you want it.”
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Persistence opened doors
As demand for his vegetables increased, Sibusiso identified an unused piece of land near his home and began clearing it with the help of family members.
His determination eventually caught the attention of the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, which assisted him with fencing, irrigation equipment, seed and fertiliser.
“I kept knocking on their door until they decided to assist me,” he said.
Rather than focusing on what was still lacking, he hired a tractor, prepared the land, installed the irrigation system and planted crops.
“They told me the rest was up to me.”
He said many people might have sold the farming inputs instead of using them productively. “But I knew exactly what I wanted.”
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Building a commercial farming business
From those humble beginnings, Mogale Farming Enterprise has grown into a successful commercial operation that produces cabbage, spinach, tomatoes, baby marrows, sweet peppers, chillies and eggs on 24 hectares.
The business now employs six permanent workers, and provides practical training opportunities for 40 students from the University of Mpumalanga and TVET colleges in the province.
A message of hope
Closing his address, Sibusiso encouraged aspiring farmers not to allow disability, limited resources or difficult circumstances to stand in the way of their ambitions. He believes successful farming is built on determination, hard work and a willingness to start with whatever resources are available.
His own story illustrates that while funding can help a farming business grow, long-term success depends on the mindset and commitment of the person behind it.
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From fields of hope to fields of opportunity: Young women farmers helping secure South Africa’s future
