Sithabile Bafana – Farmer | Zimbabwe | Cohort 17 Alum
For Sithabile Bafana, innovation began with seeing opportunity where others saw waste. Surrounded by agricultural residues such as maize stalks, maize cobs and animal manure that were often discarded, Sithabile envisioned a way to transform these materials into something that could improve livelihoods, strengthen food security and protect the environment.
Inspired by the leadership and entrepreneurial skills gained through the RLC-SA programme and by years of working with communities through non-governmental organisations, Sithabile launched a mushroom farming enterprise that converts agricultural waste into a sustainable source of income.
“What started as a small idea has grown into a vision of creating opportunities for others while promoting environmentally sustainable farming,” says Sithabile.
Using locally available agricultural by-products as growing substrates, Sithabile established a button mushroom production enterprise that eliminates the need for chemical pesticides while promoting environmentally friendly farming practices. Building on this success, the business is now expanding into oyster mushroom cultivation to increase production and create even more opportunities for community participation.
To date, the enterprise has produced more than 300 kilograms of mushrooms, valued at approximately USD 9 per kilogram, demonstrating the commercial potential of sustainable mushroom farming. Beyond production, the initiative has raised awareness of mushroom cultivation as a viable agribusiness and created opportunities to train and mentor women and young people interested in starting their own enterprises.
Sithabile credits the RLC-SA programme with strengthening leadership, strategic thinking and entrepreneurial confidence. The programme provided the skills to identify community challenges, develop practical solutions and build a business that creates both economic and social value.
Looking ahead, Sithabile envisions establishing a Mushroom Production and Training Centre that will serve as a hub for innovation, skills development and entrepreneurship. The centre will support women and youth with practical training in mushroom cultivation and business management, promote environmental sustainability through agricultural waste recycling and help aspiring entrepreneurs establish their own mushroom enterprises. In recognition of her innovative approach to sustainable agribusiness, Sithabile was also selected as one of the recipients of the 2026 RLC-SA Virtual Alumni Exhibition Grant, providing her a platform to showcase her work and its impact to a wider regional audience.