18/07/2025
ROOTED IN RESILIENCE: HOW ZINHLE SKHOSANA IS REIMAGINING FARMING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
Brought to you by: VitalHer Magazine
In the rural corners of Ermelo and Morgenzon, a quiet revolution is taking placeâled by a determined young woman with calloused hands, a heart full of purpose, and a vision for agricultural transformation. Zinhle Skhosana, a passionate farmer and trailblazer, is proving that farming is not a last resort but a powerful and purposeful pathâespecially for women.
A JOURNEY BORN FROM THE SOIL
Zinhle Skhosanaâs roots run deep in the soil. Raised by her grandparents, she grew up watching her grandfather practice subsistence farming, unknowingly planting the seeds of a future she would one day embrace.
âFarming found me,â Zinhle says. âAfter high school, I took a gap year, unsure of my direction. That time helped me realise how much I loved farming. I decided to study Agriculture, then come back home and use the land we had.â
It wasnât a glamorous start. She began with broilers and vegetables, cleverly using chicken manure to nourish her crops. Then came goats, sheep, and eventually layer chicks for egg production. Each move was both strategic and instinctiveâa response to local needs and gaps in the market. âI noticed the scarcity of point-of-lay hens in our area and decided to raise day-old chicks myself. I want to fill that gap and provide both eggs and layers.â
A DAY IN HER BOOTS
Farming isnât just Zinhleâs professionâitâs a lifestyle. Her days start before sunrise and end long after sunset, dictated by whatever needs attention.
âNo day is the same,â she explains. âSome days Iâm feeding chickens, others Iâm inspecting the vegetable fields, harvesting, cleaning coops, or doing deliveries. I work with helpers and also hire women seasonally when things get busy.â
Her operation, based on leased family land, is hands-on and dynamic. With no formal routine, every task is shaped by urgency, season, and her own growing expertise.
TRIUMPH OVER OBSTACLES
Breaking into agriculture as a young woman hasnât been easy. Zinhleâs journey has been marked by funding struggles, lack of infrastructure like abattoirs or packhouses, and challenges accessing formal markets. Still, sheâs defied the odds.
âIâve managed to build two big chicken coops, fund my education, and reinvest in my business all from farming profits,â she says proudly. âSeriti Green funded me and mentored me. Iâve also received support from the Department of Agriculture and Seriti Institute.â
Her resilience is more than financial, itâs mental. âI donât pay attention to gender-based stereotypes. I go after what I want and donât let anyone or anything stop me.â
CULTIVATING COMMUNITY
Zinhleâs vision extends beyond her own fields. Sheâs determined to uplift other women and youth in rural communities. During planting seasons, she employs local women, and her long-term dream includes launching a farming academy to train the next generation.
âI want people to stop thinking that farming is for old, uneducated men,â she declares. âWomen can create jobs, be financially independent, and stay in rural areas instead of leaving for city jobs that pay very little.â
Her advice to young women? âItâs not easy, but itâs doable. If you love it, commit to it. Be bold. Make people listen to your ideas. Never wait for anyoneâs approval.â
FUELLED BY PURPOSE
Balance is key for Zinhle, who carves out time for her studies, family, and self-care despite the heavy demands of her farm. She credits her grandparents for helping her manage it all, especially when sheâs away.
âMy motivation is building something for my future children. I want them to inherit, not start from scratch. I want to retire early and live a financially free life.â
Her personal mantra? âIf you give up now, uzoba umthwalo kabani in the future?â (Whose burden will you become in the future?)
PLANTING THE SEEDS OF INNOVATION
With eyes set on commercial farming, Zinhle embraces innovation and sustainability. âWe canât keep farming the old way with all the climate changes happening. Iâm open to learning new agricultural technologies.â
She dreams of scaling up, diversifying her offerings, and building a legacy, not just for herself but for others who want to walk a similar path.
VitalHer, VITAL VOICE
Being featured in VitalHer Magazine holds deep meaning for Zinhle. âIt means my story can reach the right people. Social media might be dominated by youth, but magazines like this reach women who need direction and inspiration.â
Her message to readers is as practical as it is powerful: âWhatever business idea you have, go for it. Push through the hard times. Read. Learn. Attend free training. Ask questions. Associate with people in your field. Donât wait. Just do it.â
Zinhle Skhosana is not just feeding communities; sheâs feeding hope, leadership, and change. In her hands, farming becomes a revolution. And in her story, we find the courage to dig deep, plant purpose, and grow boldly.