Takalani Isaac Khorombi’s tale is a remarkable one of passion and perseverance and has emerged as a beacon of hope for rural farmers. Khorombi, a young man who is still in his prime youth, graduated with a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics (Cum Laude) from the University of Venda during the 2025 Autumn graduation, and his academic journey is a testament to his unwavering commitment to transforming agriculture and uplifting communities.
Inspired by his father’s backyard farming, Khorombi’s passion for agriculture was ignited early on. His vision? To bridge the gap between subsistence farming and commercial agriculture, empowering smallholder farmers to thrive in a challenging landscape.
His master’s dissertation, titled Determinants of Commercialisation Among Smallholder Vegetable Cash Crop Farmers in Thulamela Municipality,
tackles the critical barriers and opportunities for farmers striving to achieve commercial success. By addressing these challenges, Khorombi’s work lays the foundation for enhanced food security and improved livelihoods across rural communities.
Khorombi’s academic journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Throughout his master’s programme, Khorombi published an impressive eight research outputs, including six journal articles and two conference proceedings. His work earned global recognition at the 10th International Conference on Business and Management Dynamics in 2024, where he was named the Best Postgraduate Presenter. As a testament to this achievement,
he was awarded the 9th edition of Research Methods for Business Students by Mark N.K. Saunders, Philip Lewis, and Adrian Thornhill, presented by the lead author, Prof. M.N.K. Saunders from the University of Birmingham Business School, United Kingdom.
Reflecting on his achievements, Khorombi credits his success to the unwavering support of his family, friends, especially his mentor, Dr Mpho Tshikororo. “This milestone is not just mine, but it belongs to everyone who believed in me and supported me along the way,” he said with gratitude.
Now as a PhD candidate, Takalani Isaac Khorombi continues to pave the way for agricultural transformation, proving that from humble beginnings, one can cultivate change that resonates far beyond the fields.
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
