Samkelisiwe Sithole
Environment, Agriculture and Sustainability
Nominee's Province:
Kwazulu-natal
Project Name/Description:
Luhnyezi Farms
Samkelisiwe Sithole’s involvement in agriculture and sustainability was accidental; it was deliberate, as her primary focus has always been to address poverty and hunger in the rural communities. Agriculture became a viable tool to be used to address these socio-economic challenges. Years of educational and corporate experience came in handy in her farming business, Luhnyezi Farms. Her marketing qualification and practical work experience in sales and marketing are paying off in her business. While tackling issues of food security, she is also directly solving burning issues such as unemployment and women's and youth empowerment. Her company is unique in that it combines poultry farming with processing, training, and mentorship. The challenges affecting her business include limited access to finance, high feed costs, water shortages, and market constraints. “We have responded with resilience and creativity by seeking blended finance opportunities, introducing value-added products like liquid and powered eggs, and building partnerships to expand the markets,” she said.
