Determined farmer Siyabonga Ndlela remains focused despite unexpected floods in KZN

While many businesses were severely affected by the ravaging floods that hit the province of KwaZulu-Natal earlier this year, Siyabonga Ndlela remains defiant as he focuses on his dreams. 
 
The young farmer is still determined to change the agricultural sector when he formed Ndlela Agri Group as a committed cabbage farmer. 
 
Ndlela reflects on the effects of the floods, saying they came as a shock and really hit the business where it hurts. 
 
Ndlela is the founder of KZN agricultural business Ndlela Agri Group and runs projects in Impendle, uMgungundlovu in KwaZulu-Natal that had been developing steadily and he was very optimistic about what was to come. 
 
IOL reports that his future prospects looked very good and had been boosted by the support of a close business network, and the Firstwatch Whisky Entrepreneurs initiative which awarded Siya R100 000 as the winner of their 2022 competition. 
 
Then the floods hit the province leaving the economy on its knees and just like many entrepreneurs, Siya was ill-prepared for what would befall him and many others in the province. 
 
The devastation at his farm was not in vain for Siya who focused on the positives he could take from the disaster. 
 
“Of course, the flood came as a shock. I wasn’t expecting it, and it completely caught me off-guard. But what can you do other than reinvent yourself in situations like these?” he said. 
 
“I used the floods as a learning opportunity. Yes, it was devastating in many ways, but it was an opportunity to do it better than I had before. For example, now I’m planting on higher land. The floods were a freak incident, but they taught me that I must always have contingencies in place.” 
 
However, the challenges have opened Ndlela’s eyes and says he remains determined to keep learning as he shares his story. 
 
“As an engineer and everyday entrepreneur, I believe in learning from my mistakes. The first thing that crossed my mind when the floods arrived was, ‘Why didn’t I foresee this?,” he added. 
 
“And I went to one of my friend’s farms, which was also hit, to see what the other farmers were doing. Because he dug trenches in the right places, he didn’t have the same issue. That was a lightbulb moment.” 
 
With that being said Siya has taken a step back and looked at ways he can improve his business was set up, and implemented changes that will help his business grow steadily and eventually thrive.  
 
He did all this with the help of mentors and advisors who were at his disposal thanks to the Firstwatch Whisky Entrepreneurs initiative. 
 
“I had an extensive re-evaluation recently. Of course, I want the business to grow, but it can’t just happen overnight. I don’t want to be in a position where I have customers I can’t service,” he continued. 
 
“I currently have six seasonal workers planting as we speak, and I hope to create many more employment opportunities in the community.” 
 
Main Image: Siya Ndlela/South Africa Today/Ndlela Agri Group