BY PHESHEYA KUNENE - EDITOR
EZULWINI – The day the flood came, everything Daladi had built disappeared in hours. Emfuleni Lifestyle, his dream project, a vibrant hub where families, food, and plants intertwined,was gone.
Yet, from the wreckage, Sifiso Daladi Dlamini emerged stronger, turning disaster into opportunity, despair into determination, and seedlings into a legacy.
Daladi is not just a farmer. He is an agripreneur, conservationist, innovator, and a living example of how resilience, vision, and hard work can transform setbacks into triumphs. His journey is a story every farmer, business owner, and dreamer should read.
A PASSION ROOTED IN THE SOIL
Daladi’s love for plants started at the University of Swaziland, where he earned a BSc in Agriculture with a major in Agronomy. “That’s where I fell in love with plants,” he recalls. “Farming isn’t just a business for me, it’s in my blood.”
From small-scale crop production to supplying nurseries, supermarkets, and commercial enterprises, Daladi honed skills that would later define his entrepreneurial edge: plant propagation, value chain management, and marketing. His principle is simple yet powerful: “Do it properly the first time or don’t do it at all.”
Discipline, transparency, decisiveness, and respect for time guide every business decision. “Time and opportunity wait for no one,” he says.
THE RISE AND FALL OF EMFULENI LIFESTYLE
Emfuleni Lifestyle was more than a business—it was a destination, a space where families could celebrate, international guests felt welcome, and local communities thrived.
Then, in January 2021, nature struck. “I still haven’t emotionally recovered from that flood,” Daladi admits. “The financial loss was enormous, but the emotional impact, seeing years of hard work washed away, was crushing.”
Professionally, Daladi learned the hard way about risk concentration. All his businesses were domiciled in one location, a mistake that cost dearly. “Diversify and protect your assets,” he says now. “Climate change is real, and it doesn’t wait for us to be ready.”
PLANT CO: A GREEN REBIRTH
From the floodwaters rose Plant Co, a bold, visionary nursery that redefines what an agricultural business can be. “I was born with a spear in my hand,” Daladi laughs. “I had to fight back, rebuild, and innovate.”
Plant Co is a hybrid space: nursery, café, lifestyle destination, and conservation hub. Vegetable seedlings, fruit and indigenous trees, ornamentals, and landscaping products fill 4,000 square meters of green space. Food security, sustainability, and biodiversity are central pillars.
“Nurseries are where agriculture begins,” Daladi explains. “We provide farmers with superior, disease-free seedlings, preserve endangered species, and multiply genetics for future generations. Without strong nurseries, the agricultural chain collapses.”
The nursery also educates, supports farmers, and empowers communities. Daladi ensures that every seedling planted contributes to a stronger, greener, and more resilient Eswatini.
LANDSCAPING, GREEN ECONOMY, AND INNOVATION
Plant Co’s landscaping division exemplifies the green economy in action. Gardens designed and installed by Daladi’s team absorb carbon, reduce environmental impact, and create employment opportunities. Young entrepreneurs are stepping in, offering landscaping services and growing small businesses.
“Every plant we propagate is a step toward climate resilience,” he says. “The green economy is not a luxury, it’s the future.”
RESILIENCE, DIVERSIFICATION, AND LESSONS FOR FARMERS
The flood taught Daladi lessons money cannot buy: resilience, diversification, and foresight. Today, he operates multiple production sites, invests in protective structures, and continuously innovates.
His advice to fellow farmers and agripreneurs is firm: “Farming is not easy. Plan meticulously, diversify your crops and locations, invest in knowledge, and never give up after a failure. Risk is part of the game, but preparation and adaptability are key.”
Daladi also urges policymakers to support farmers with easier access to funding, grants, and markets, while aligning policies with the realities on the ground.
A LEGACY TAKING ROOT
Looking ahead, Daladi envisions an Eswatini repopulated with endangered and indigenous plant species. “I want my work to leave a lasting footprint,” he says. “Every tree, every seedling is part of a legacy for future generations.”
From perfume bottles to flood-ravaged landscapes, from seedling trays to lifestyle destinations, Daladi’s story is proof that perseverance, vision, and courage can defy even the harshest odds. Plant Co is more than a nursery, it is a living testament to resilience, a blueprint for modern agribusiness, and an inspiration for Eswatini’s farmers and entrepreneurs.
“Keep going,” he says to those who face adversity in business and farming. “Your work feeds the nation. Your innovation shapes the future. And your courage builds legacies.”
