From Dreams to Reality: How ECRDA Helped a Young Man Chase His Farming Dream
For as long as he can remember, 33-year-old Wandile Khave dreamed of working with animals. Raised in the rural town of iDutywa, in Ndaleni Location, he grew up surrounded by vast open land but without access to any of it.
Despite the odds, Wandile’s heart was always set on livestock farming. Yet, without land, capital, or support, his dream seemed out of reach.
“I always knew I wanted to be a livestock farmer. But wanting something and having the means to do it are two different things. I didn’t have land or money. All I had was a dream and passion,” Wandile recalls.
Determined to carve out a future in agriculture, Wandile pursued a National Diploma in Agriculture.
In 2020, he began farming on a small piece of land, growing vegetables such as cabbages, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, beetroot, lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower. Every seed he planted was a step closer to turning his dream into reality.
In 2021, his efforts began to bear fruit. Wandile registered his own company, Karoo Farming Enterprise (Pty) Ltd.
While his vegetable crops flourished, his passion for livestock farming remained strong. That’s when Wandile turned to the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA) for support. With high hopes and a detailed plan, he applied for assistance to establish his livestock business.
His application was approved, and through ECRDA’s support, 16 pregnant Bonsmara heifers were purchased on his behalf. Today, 14 healthy calves have been born, marking the start of an exciting new chapter in his agricultural journey.
“I heard about ECRDA while looking for funding. When they approved my application and bought the cattle, it felt like a dream come true,” says Wandile.
“The day I received the 16 pregnant heifers was one of the happiest of my life. Watching them give birth felt like a major achievement.”
For Wandile, this experience has been nothing short of life-changing.
“It boosted my confidence and gave me the opportunity to apply my skills and knowledge to my own herd. Now I can even advise other farmers with real experience to back me up.”
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