Lovedale TVET College Students Visit Amalinda Nursery and Gxarha Farm

On the 29th of August 2025, Lovedale TVET College, through its CoVE SA Hub funded by the European Union, had the opportunity to take horticulture students on an educational excursion to Amalinda Nursery and Gxarha small-scale farm in East London. The visit formed part of the curriculum under horticulture, focusing on plant production.

At Amalinda Nursery, students were exposed to the fundamentals of starting and managing a nursery enterprise. They gained insights into the opportunities available in nursery production as well as the challenges entrepreneurs face in sustaining such businesses.

The tour continued to Gxarha Farm, a thriving small-scale enterprise situated near East London. The farm consists of three plots, each measuring 400 hectares, and produces spinach and sweet potatoes that supply retail outlets across East London and Qonce (formerly King William’s Town).

Mr. Brian, the farm manager, shared his inspiring journey of transitioning from engineering to farming. “Starting a farm is not as simple as I thought it looked. I had to learn the business, suffered some losses, but you have to remember why you’re doing this and who is going to benefit,” he told the students. He proudly added, “Today I supply Qonce Spar and all the retail shops around East London. On a good day, I sell over 4,000 bunches of spinach. You can never sleep on an empty stomach when you do farming.”

The session was highly interactive, with students also offering Mr. Brian advice on improving inter-row spacing to maximize production. He warmly received their input and expressed gratitude for their engagement.

To build on the success of the visit, Lovedale TVET College expressed interest in forming a collaboration with Gxarha Farm. This partnership would provide valuable Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities for students, allowing them to gain hands-on experience while contributing to the growth of a promising local enterprise.