Lutendo Nevondo made a life-changing decision when she left her job as a manager at a well-known life-insurance company to pursue farming full-time in Vondo village, near Thohoyandou. While many questioned her move, she saw it not just as a career change but as a calling.
In 2015, she founded Mulondzhi Farm, which has since become a household name at local and regional markets. The farm spans 30 hectares, with 10 currently under full production, supplying fresh avocados and litchis to Spar Northwest, Pretoria's fresh produce market, and several local fruit and vegetable shops.
Nevondo has built a dedicated team, employing six permanent staff, five temporary workers, and 15 seasonal workers. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, she faced the added pressure of proving herself. One of her major challenges was securing access to reliable markets.
"My passion for organic fruit led me to venture into avocado and litchi farming, with plans to process these fruits into products like oil and juice. I want Mulondzhi Farm to produce the highest-quality avocados and litchis for both local and global markets. Our farm's location and environment are perfect for growing these fruits," she explained.
She bought the farm from an elderly man in her village who was ready to sell. At the time, it had very little — just a few litchi trees. In the early days, Nevondo and her husband, Immanuel, invested their pension funds to drill a borehole and build essential infrastructure, including a toilet and storeroom.
Leaving her managerial job was difficult, but the leadership skills she had gained proved invaluable in running the farm. Despite challenges, including market access and financial setbacks, Nevondo found support from Subtrop, an organisation that helped her connect with markets and introduced her to Amondel Packers.
In December, Mulondzhi Farm earned its SA GAP certification, opening doors to better market access and improved returns. However, Nevondo still faces equipment shortages, particularly the lack of a tractor and proper irrigation systems.
"Looking ahead, I plan to acquire a drone to improve spraying efficiency and enhance the quality of my fruit. In the meantime, I rely on additional workers, which strains the farm's budget. Still, I remain committed to producing high-quality fruits for local and global markets," she said.