Rising with the Sun: The Journey of Lizo Tshona

Lizo Tshona, from Nyalasa village on the outskirts of Cala town, is a farmer at heart. In 2019, he made a deliberate decision to leave Cape Town and return to the Eastern Cape, choosing the quiet resilience of rural life over the pace of the city. For him, the rolling hills and fertile soil of home were not just a change of scenery, but an opportunity to invest in the land and build something meaningful.

Farming, he explains, is not without its challenges. Drought, pests and fluctuating markets are part of everyday life. Yet, these difficulties are what make the journey meaningful. “It’s about adapting, innovating and pushing forward,” he says. “When the sun is scorching and the fields are dry, I remind myself that every challenge is an opportunity.”

Water remains one of the biggest challenges. Unreliable supply and dry conditions make it difficult to maintain crops consistently. Like many small-scale farmers in the area, Lizo has to think carefully about how to use water efficiently, whether through storing rainwater, managing irrigation, or adjusting what he plants. It is a constant balancing act between nature, resources and survival.

His small subsistence farm is both his livelihood and his passion. Lizo sells fresh produce to local markets, reinvesting what he earns back into the farm. It is a continuous cycle of growth — not only of crops, but of resilience and purpose.

There is also growing recognition that farmers cannot do it alone. Working together with other small-scale farmers through informal cooperation or structured co-operatives could help address shared challenges such as water access, input costs and market reach. By pooling resources, sharing knowledge and coordinating production, farmers like Lizo could strengthen their position and build more sustainable livelihoods.

For now, his focus remains firmly on the land. Building something sustainable, something that lasts, is what drives him. “Farming doesn’t leave much room for anything else,” he reflects, “but I’m building a legacy.”

His message to others is simple but powerful: “Don’t give up. The road is rough, but the view is worth it.”