Women Who Feed the World: Fikile Ngcobo – Growing Legacy, Feeding the Future
We met Fikile Ngcobo early on in our Oya Foods journey, alongside her mother, Nomxolisi Mathe, and were deeply moved by their story - a powerful blend of generational wisdom, shared purpose, and quiet determination. Nomxolisi, the founder and mastermind behind Sungula Farm in Benoni, planted the vision; Fikile has taken root in it, helping to grow a thriving, women-led farm committed to organic produce, food security, and community care.
In this conversation, Fikile shares her journey (from inspired daughter to farm director), the lessons she’s learned working alongside her mother, and how she’s cultivating a legacy of purpose, quality, and care — one harvest at a time.
Tell us a bit about your farm — how did it all begin and what inspired your journey into farming?
Sungula Farm was formed by a group of nine women as a cooperative. We got the land through Local and Rural Economic Development (LRED) back in 2002. It was a grant at first, and over the years, we continued to invest and develop it. We applied for three tunnels through a business proposal because we wanted to contribute to food security. Government officials came to inspect the land - at the time, it was just bush and rubble. We cleared it as best as we could and began working. Once they saw our commitment, they supported us with the tunnels. That’s when we started hydroponics, growing cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers and officially began operations in August 2005.
It wasn’t easy, but we kept going.
I was inspired by my mom. She had such passion for farming and encouraged me to study so I could eventually come manage the farm she would start. That’s exactly what happened. I’ve always loved green life, and while I was studying, I was excited knowing I’d be part of this.
When I arrived on the farm and saw just empty space, I had doubts. I wondered, "What’s supposed to happen here? " But I stayed. We worked, we worked, we worked — and here we are.
What are some of the crops you grow and what makes your approach unique?
At Sungula Trading Enterprises, we’re currently growing 120,000 heads of cabbage under a new contract with a client named Kayelo (or Kabelo, as we call him). We planted these over four hectares, each hectare takes about 30,000 heads.
In addition to that, we grow a variety of vegetables for restaurants using strictly organic methods. These include broccoli, cauliflower, baby spinach, Swiss chard, rainbow spinach, purple cauliflower, purple broccoli, and magenta, a lime-coloured broccoli. We also grow green mazerata, which is another type of lime-green broccoli. We have beetroots, carrots, and beans (we’re preparing for summer planting), as well as peas and sugar snap peas.
Our approach is unique because we focus on quality over quantity. We follow organic practices, and as a result, our produce has a longer shelf life. Our customers often comment on the taste and freshness - they can see and feel the difference. They keep coming back because they know they’re getting something special.
Why is supporting and being part of a woman-led agri-value chain important to you?
It’s important to me because, as women, it’s our time. We are fully capable of feeding the nation and contributing to food security. I love agriculture, watching something grow from a seed to harvest, then seeing it on the shelf or in a restaurant - it’s incredibly satisfying.
What brings me even more joy is knowing we’re helping fight hunger. We donate vegetables and chickens to children’s homes and families in the community. Some people come directly to the farm and receive weekly or monthly hampers, depending on their transport.
One of the homes we support is Thembalethu, not far from us. We give them vegetables and sometimes crates of chickens. That kind of impact warms my heart, to know that by working the soil, we’re able to give back in a real way.
Where can people learn more about your farm or access your produce?
We have a Facebook page called Sungula Farm, run by one of the ladies at the farm. She loves taking photos and showcasing what we’re doing, especially when we’re planting. You can find it here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EP23USbVM/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Or better yet — come visit us at the farm and let’s talk!