Midrand, Gauteng
Siphiwe Sithole is the founder and chief executive farmer of African Marmalade, a successful organic farming enterprise based in Midrand, Gauteng, which she founded in 2015. Dedicated to reviving indigenous African crops that once sustained generations, Siphiwe cultivates ancient grains and heritage vegetables, from finger millet, sorghum, and cassava to cowpeas, bambara nuts, and sweet potatoes, while also producing popular staples such as potatoes, beetroot, cabbage, and carrots.
An extraordinary networker and community builder, Siphiwe has extended her impact far beyond her own farm gates. She actively brings together other small-scale farmers from across Gauteng province to collectively fulfil produce requests via the OneFarm Share platform. Starting her OneFarm Share journey in 2021, she has both donated surplus produce and aggregated the efforts of neighbouring farmers, helping to coordinate supply and meet tonnage requirements that no single smallholder could achieve alone.
To date, Siphiwe and her network have contributed a combined 22,000+ kg of fresh produce to the OneFarm Share programme. The OneFarm Share programme gave Siphiwe what many smallholder farmers lack most: reliable market access, transparent pricing, fair payment terms, and logistics support. No longer constrained by location, she could reach wider markets at better prices. This structure not only stabilised her own enterprise but also empowered her to recruit additional farmers into the programme, a cause close to her heart and deeply aligned with her personal values of food
sovereignty and community upliftment.
Today, Siphiwe’s experience on the platform has elevated her to the role of mentor. She provides guidance and practical knowledge to farmers who are new to OneFarm Share, helping them upskill and improve their operations.