Green Active was inspired by Ms Mkhize’s undergraduate research, titled Evaluating Factors Affecting Youth Participation in Agricultural Cooperatives in Mbombela, which explored the barriers that prevent young people from actively participating in agriculture.
The study revealed challenges such as limited access to land, lack of technical support, and weak market linkages, which often discourage youth from engaging in agricultural activities.
“Through the study, I also realised that agriculture is often viewed as outdated, unprofitable, or inaccessible to youth. I wanted to understand why, and agricultural cooperatives offered an entry point.
My research gave me the chance to unpack these barriers and think critically about how to make cooperatives a real solution for youth employment and empowerment,” she explained.
Ms Mkhize’s study findings became the foundation of Green Active – an online youth farmer support platform designed to address the very challenges she uncovered.
The platform provides young people with access to land through cooperatives, mentorship, technical training, and secure market channels, ensuring that they can start and sustain successful farming enterprises.
“The findings were a wake-up call that young people have the energy and ideas, but the system does not give them the tools to succeed. For example, there is no land to farm, no training to improve productivity, and no markets to sell to. That’s when I realised that research alone was not enough – I needed to act,” she added.
“Green Active was created to fill these gaps, to transform abandoned land, equip young farmers with practical skills, and connect them to real buyers.”
Her passion and dedication have already gained strong support. The Mbombela Municipality has pledged land to host agricultural cooperatives, and a pilot programme involving 100 youth farmers is set to launch soon. This milestone marks an important step in turning her academic insights into practical community impact.
Ms Mkhize during one of the business empowerment workshops hosted by UMP to build and support student entrepreneurs.
“Having the support of the Municipality means everything to me. It shows that Green Active is not just an idea on paper, but a real solution that communities believe in. The land and pilot programme will allow us to prove our model and create lasting change on the ground.
Next we plan on setting up the first cooperatives, starting production, and expanding our farmer network. In the next two years, I see Green Active growing into South Africa’s leading youth-driven farmer network,” she said.
Ms Mkhize credits her journey at UMP for shaping her both as a scholar and as an entrepreneur.
“UMP has been instrumental in shaping my journey. The research skills I gained at the institution gave me the tools to identify real problems and propose practical solutions.
The mentorship and academic guidance encouraged me to think beyond theory and to focus on real impact. That support gave me the confidence to take my research off the page and into the field,” she said.
Through Green Active, she envisions a new generation of young farmers who see agriculture as a field of innovation and opportunity.
“Green Active is about showing young people that agriculture can be a career, not a last resort. By reviving underused land and providing skills and market access, we are creating pathways to income, independence, and innovation.
This model can shift perceptions, create new jobs, strengthen cooperatives, and help communities thrive,” she added.
Now pursuing her Master’s research at UMP, Ms Mkhize continues to build on her commitment to agricultural development and rural transformation. “Through Green Active, I’m proving that research-driven innovation can change lives, strengthen communities, and shape the future of youth in South Africa.”
Ms Mkhize has shown how academic research can inspire practical solutions that empower communities and transform livelihoods.
Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures by JB Creative Cinema. Copyright © UMP