THE INAUGURAL Agripreneurship competition for youth in the east and southern African region, have been announced.
Thanks to Nestlé Needs YOUth Agri Competition, the winners who were selected from the African Continent, won mentorship and coaching opportunities totalling US$30,000.
International Youth Month celebrated in August, the Agri Competition, ran from June – July 2022 and called for youth agripreneurs to submit entries of their farming business, throughout the African Continent.
At the awards ceremony held at the 22 On Sloane, Bryanston, one would have thought the occasion was a fashion parade, as youngsters swopped their boots and overalls for stilettos and cologne.
Over 600 entries were received from across the region and the top 10 finalists were from South Africa: Sahaba Projects, Imbewu Farmers, AgriNouri, Guwela Farming, Zsqaured projects and Sekgale Trading Enterprise.
From Kenya; Melmax Farm Fresh, Tuluk Honey Traders Baringo and Kokwa Island Beekeeper, and from Uganda; Kyega Valley Mixed Farms.
First prize went to Fellistus Mmankopodi Sekgale, aged 26, of QueenAgri, based in Sekhukhune district, Fetakgomo Municipality in Mphanama Village.
“I operate what is called mixed farming that allows me and my staff to experience a lot of things. As a result we created QueenAgri, an agribusiness that offers services and supply goods mainly to retailers in the Limpopo province,” she said.
“The company specialises in mixed farming on 20 hectares of a farm producing livestock and cash crops for supply.”
Sekgale was awarded the IGNITE Investment for Scale Programme through the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship South Africa. The prize is an intensive six-month mentorship and coaching programme, with access to industry professionals and business coaches across eight critical areas in business.
Melvin Muna, (29) from Kenya, of Melmax Farm Fresh, took the second prize.
The business is based in Kibwezi Town, in the Makueni County in Kenya. Muna walks away with the IGNITE Access to Markets Programme, a three-month programme that includes access to mentoring, and access to industry professionals and business coaches across four critical areas of business.
Kyega Valley Mixed Farms specialises in livestock, breeding goats for sale to abattoirs and individual retailers, to meet the growing demand for improved Boer goats.
Ugandan John Wani, (29) of Kyega Valley Mixed Farms, took third prize.
The Nestlé needs YOUth initiative aims to help young people gain access to apprenticeships, traineeships, and job opportunities – empowering them with skills they need to thrive.
The global ambition is to help 10 million young people around the world access economic opportunities by 2030 through employment and employability, agripreneurship, and entrepreneurship.
Nestlé ESAR HR Director, Athol Swanepoel, commented: “Young people are at the heart of regeneration and are our future. They are the entrepreneurs and innovators of tomorrow.
In agriculture exists sustainable economic opportunities that youth can unlock and for a business such as ours, they are opportunities to partner with these agribusinesses”.
The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship South Africa’s Ignite Business Accelerator, will help the three lucky winners in getting their businesses investor-ready and, ready to go to market.
Image (Nestlé ESAR HR Director, Athol Swanepoel and over-all winner from Limpopo Province, Fellistus Mmankopodi Sekgale, from QueenAgri).
