Zanele Khumalo established Setlhare Farm in 2025 on Farm Portion 8, located in Arcadia, City of Tshwane, Gauteng. The farm spans 21.5 hectares, serviced by borehole water, grid electricity, and key infrastructure including a pig house, two storage facilities, and a cattle camp. At 23 years old, she has built an operation that integrates livestock production, horticulture, and agro-processing into a single viable enterprise.
Her journey began with a commitment to prove that young South Africans could build sustainable agricultural businesses with the right support. Through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (Government Agricultural Grant), she secured capital funding from the Department of Rural Development, Pretoria, enabling the construction of the initial pig house and the establishment of vegetable production beds. The farm currently employs four daily labourers, with a structured growth plan to reach ten workers on facility completion and thirty permanent jobs by 2028.
Farm Infrastructure
Farm Portion 8 is a working farm, fully connected to grid electricity and serviced by a borehole.
The farm's 21.5 hectares of land support three distinct production areas: the piggery, which operates with farrowing sows under structured management; the vegetable beds, which produce fresh produce for multiple market channels; and the agro-processing area, which adds value to both pig and vegetable outputs, increasing revenue per unit of production. Current infrastructure is functional and operational, with Government Agricultural Grant capital funding committed to expand facilities in the next growth phase.
Each objective builds toward a self-sustaining agricultural enterprise that serves the community it grows in.
Our Eight Goals
01
Establish a sustainable piggery with commercial-scale pork production for local abattoir offtake
02
Develop vegetable production capacity serving PickNPay, Joburg Market, and Vereeniging Market
03
Launch agro-processing facility to increase revenue per kilogram of farm output
04
Secure Government Agricultural Grant capital funding for expanded infrastructure and training facility
05
Create 30 permanent jobs for youth aged 23–35 in Arcadia, Pretoria by 2028
06
Establish a national agricultural training centre for the next generation of South African farmers
07
Implement circular agriculture — pig waste to compost, compost to vegetable beds, beds to processing
08
Achieve financial sustainability and profitability by end of the 2026 fiscal year
Sustainability
Circular agriculture principles reduce waste and build soil health. Pig waste becomes compost, compost enriches vegetable beds, and processing residues are recycled into the next cycle. The borehole water system reduces municipal dependency.
Job creation targets youth aged 23–35 in Arcadia, Pretoria — one of South Africa's highest-unemployment districts. The planned training facility will extend this impact beyond the farm, building agricultural skills across the Pretoria community.
Three production departments create multiple revenue streams with different market channels, reducing single-commodity risk. Government-backed capital funding reduces initial debt exposure while the agro-processing unit increases per-unit margins.
Partners & Stakeholders
Department of Rural Development
City of Tshwane
Government Agricultural Grant capital funding partner — supporting infrastructure development and facility expansion through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme.
Valley Abattoir
Nigel — Primary Pork Offtaker
Primary market for piggery output. Structured offtake arrangement providing revenue certainty for the pork production department.
Regional Supply Group
Joburg Market — Vegetable Buyer
Contract buyer for fresh vegetable produce, placing Setlhare Farm product directly into Johannesburg's primary fresh produce market.
AgriSupply Co.
Farrowing Sow & Feed Supplier
Supplier of farrowing sows and specialist pig feed. Relationship includes mentorship from Mr. Steyn on piggery management best practice.
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