Wa Thinta abafazi In Farming
| Business Location: | Rural area - Farms |
| Province | Northern Cape |
| Branch: | ZF Mgcawu |
| Business Start Date: | |
| Busniess Type: | Company |
Business Dynamics and Challenges
Business Activities:
It offers a diverse range of products, including fresh table grapes, wine grapes, and sun-dried raisins. In addition, it caters for both domestic and potential international markets, with a reputation for delivering products that meet rigorous health and safety standards.
Challenges/Needs:
Wathinta Bafazi in Farming faced several challenges in starting their operations, including:
1. Basic Business Skills: Many members lacked essential skills in business management, financial planning, and marketing, making it difficult to run sustainable operations.
2. Access to Funding: Securing funding from banks or investors was a significant hurdle, as many faced challenges in presenting viable business plans or meeting collateral requirements.
3. Training and Support: Limited access to agricultural training and mentorship programs hindered their ability to adopt modern farming techniques and best practices.
4. Market Access: Identifying reliable markets for their produce proved challenging, often resulting in difficulties in selling their products at fair prices.
Intervention Insights and Results
Intervention Details:
1. Business Compliance and Training: A series of business-to-business training workshops focusing on essential skills such as financial management, marketing strategies, and regulatory compliance were implemented. These sessions equipped the members with the knowledge needed to run their operations more effectively and confidently. 2. Access to Funding: To address the funding challenges, the Business Advisor facilitated
connections with the Department of Agriculture. The Business Advisor further provided
guidance on the application process for grants and loans, ensuring that the members
were well-prepared to present viable business proposals. This support significantly
increased their chances of securing necessary financial resources. The SMME got R 3 000
000 grant from the Department and a loan of R6 500 000.
connections with the Department of Agriculture. The Business Advisor further provided
guidance on the application process for grants and loans, ensuring that the members
were well-prepared to present viable business proposals. This support significantly
increased their chances of securing necessary financial resources. The SMME got R 3 000
000 grant from the Department and a loan of R6 500 000.
Outcome Details:
1. Capacity Building: Through the business-to-business training, members gained essential skills in financial management, marketing, and compliance. This empowerment enabled them to approach their farming operations with greater confidence and professionalism.
2. Access to Funding: As a direct result of Sedfa’s support in navigating the funding landscape, the business successfully secured financing from the Department of Agriculture. This funding was crucial for purchasing necessary equipment and resources, allowing the business to expand its operations effectively.
3. Strong First Year Performance: With the newly acquired skills and resources, the business experienced a remarkable first year of operations. They were able to produce high-quality agricultural products, which not only met local market demands but also established a reputation for excellence.
4. Recognition and Growth: The success of Wathinta Bafazi in Farming attracted attention, leading to a visit from the National Department of Agriculture. This recognition underscored their achievements and positioned them as a model for other emerging farming initiatives. The visit provided additional opportunities for networking and potential future support.
5. Employment: The business was able to provide both seasonal and permanent employment to 47 employees mostly being young people. Wathinta Abafazi in Farming has 34 seasonal and 13 permanent employees. The business started with 27 employees and has managed to increase its personnel with 20 more. The Department of Agriculture also provides interns to assist on the farm.
6. Turnover: The business had R0.00 turnover in the previous year as the operations were not yet in place. The turnover has increased from R 0.00 to R 483,545.72. This shows significant improvement within the business development and growth.
2. Access to Funding: As a direct result of Sedfa’s support in navigating the funding landscape, the business successfully secured financing from the Department of Agriculture. This funding was crucial for purchasing necessary equipment and resources, allowing the business to expand its operations effectively.
3. Strong First Year Performance: With the newly acquired skills and resources, the business experienced a remarkable first year of operations. They were able to produce high-quality agricultural products, which not only met local market demands but also established a reputation for excellence.
4. Recognition and Growth: The success of Wathinta Bafazi in Farming attracted attention, leading to a visit from the National Department of Agriculture. This recognition underscored their achievements and positioned them as a model for other emerging farming initiatives. The visit provided additional opportunities for networking and potential future support.
5. Employment: The business was able to provide both seasonal and permanent employment to 47 employees mostly being young people. Wathinta Abafazi in Farming has 34 seasonal and 13 permanent employees. The business started with 27 employees and has managed to increase its personnel with 20 more. The Department of Agriculture also provides interns to assist on the farm.
6. Turnover: The business had R0.00 turnover in the previous year as the operations were not yet in place. The turnover has increased from R 0.00 to R 483,545.72. This shows significant improvement within the business development and growth.
Client Feedback
Client Comments:
Planting Dreams, Harvesting Opportunities
