Student’s vegetable business growing in leaps and bounds
SIBONISO Madlala, a Master’s agronomy student at the University of Zululand (UNIZULU), epitomises what it means to rise above the difficult circumstances of life.
Like scores of citizens around the country, the 27-year-old from Pietermaritzburg, Kwazulu-natal was hard-hit by the advent of the lockdown period in March 2020. Unemployed and penniless, he decided to put his plant science knowledge to use by starting a vegetable farming business. And thus, Bequeathal Enterprise was born. He intentionally chose the word “bequeathal”, which means leaving a legacy, because it resonated with his business aspirations. The farm is based in Jozini, northern KZN, an area Madlala targeted because of its warm climate.
“I always knew that I would take the entrepreneurship route one day, but I thought I would only be able to achieve that after having been an employee for a few years. I realised that because of the lockdown period, chances of employment would decrease significantly, so I wound up starting my farming business sooner than I had planned.
“I started small with just one hectare of butternut. The first production cycle went very well, so I decided to increase
it to three hectares in the second cycle. Currently, I am occupying 10 hectares where I grow mielies, cabbages, butternut, green pepper, chillies and tomatoes,” Madlala said.
In a space of 12 months, Madlala’s business has expanded in ways he never expected. He now employs 11 community members, six of whom are elders and five youth. He has also successfully secured markets through local retail stores such as Shoprite, Boxer Superstores, Super Spar and the Fresh Produce Market.
Madlala attributes his swift success to the invaluable knowledge he acquired while studying towards his undergraduate degree at UNIZULU. His advanced comprehension of plants and the soil enables him to make informed decisions about the type of vegetables he grows and how to ensure these have adequate nutrients.
On his future plans, Madlala said he intends to exploit a unique area of animal farming. He is eager to get the wheels in motion, especially since he has finalised an international deal for this business venture.
The Master’s student could not emphasise enough how essential entrepreneurship is in this day and age. He hopes his story will inspire unemployed graduates to also seek and grab entrepreneurship opportunities in their fields of study, because “vacancies are becoming fewer and fewer”.