Roadway Farms: From Corporate Careers to Regenerative Vegetable Farming in KwaZulu-Natal

Shakti Satyapal has spent the past five years transforming both his career and the family farm, Roadway Farms, into a successful and sustainable agricultural enterprise. Located along the Umgeni River near Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, the 26-hectare farm has been in the family since the 1990s. Together with his father, Prakash, and sister, Prishani, Satyapal has shifted the farm from conventional to regenerative farming practices, aiming to build a blueprint for other farmers transitioning to sustainable agriculture.

After a career in advertising and strategic marketing, Satyapal turned his focus to agriculture in 2019. The family farm was struggling, and the onset of COVID-19, combined with local flooding, supply chain disruptions, and international tensions affecting fertiliser costs, created significant challenges. Despite these obstacles, the family committed to revitalising the farm rather than selling it.

The initial approach involved scaling down production and addressing infrastructure gaps. Investments were made in repairing tractors, upgrading irrigation systems, and reconditioning farm implements. Government support through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme further enabled the farm to modernise operations and improve efficiency.

Roadway Farms now produces a wide range of vegetables throughout the year. Winter crops include broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, red leeks, spring onions, and herbs, while summer crops feature okra, chillies, green beans, dry beans, butternut, brinjals, Indian vegetable varieties, and summer lettuce. Around 80% of the farm’s land is under production at any given time, with crop rotation practices used to rehabilitate the soil and reduce chemical use. Irrigation is managed through an overhead sprinkler system drawing water from the Umgeni River.

The farm has invested in mechanisation, including a new tractor, seedling transplanter, and bedformer, to improve planting efficiency and protect crops against flooding. A newly erected packhouse allows the farm to add value to its produce, mitigate risks, and purchase produce from other growers to maintain supply. The farm supplies retail outlets, wholesale buyers, and ‘bakkie traders’.

Satyapal emphasises regenerative practices and soil preservation as central to the farm’s operations. By transitioning from synthetic to locally sourced organic fertilisers and planning to produce their own, Roadway Farms is reducing dependency on global supply chains and building a more resilient farming system.

Despite these advances, the farm faces market challenges, including fluctuating produce prices that can sometimes fall below production costs. To address this, Satyapal advocates for digitised farmer databases that track fertiliser use, diesel consumption, hectares under cultivation, and crop production. Such tools would enable farmers to make informed planting decisions, avoid oversupply, and manage risks more effectively.

Beyond production, the Satyapal family continues to work in sustainability consulting, advising government and agricultural stakeholders on regenerative practices and innovative farming solutions. For Shakti Satyapal, the farm is not just a business; it is a passion. He highlights the deep connection between food production, soil health, and ecosystems, stating that understanding the full cycle of food from soil to table is both personally fulfilling and crucial for sustainable agriculture.

Roadway Farms represents a model for modern vegetable farming in KwaZulu-Natal, combining regenerative practices, strategic planning, and community-focused innovation to create a resilient, profitable, and environmentally responsible agricultural enterprise.