Born and raised in KwaMashu, Philani Mzila spent many a school holiday in the small town of Ndwedwe, located in IIlembe District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. His grandfather’s farm in the area was not only a holiday retreat but a place where lifelong values were born, values that he carried through and lived by on his own farming journey.
This vegetable farmer and founder of Nason Foods says, “My background filtered to the kind of person I am now. We used to spend almost every school holiday on my grandfather’s farm in the scorching heat of KZN.
“That lifestyle and mindset of hard work, dedication, and adhering to routine filters into the discipline you need for farming, and it teaches you a significant amount of patience.”
Lifelong lessons
He has learned many lessons that keep him going to this day.
“During that time, I learned that when you plant something, the results don’t show up immediately; it can take three or four months for them to materialise. Throughout that period, it’s crucial to remain dedicated and diligently nurture the crop. This aspect of farming has significantly influenced my mindset, instilling in me the importance of discipline and patience when you’re pursuing a venture in farming,” Mzila says.
After attending boarding school in Joburg, he pursued his studies at Wits University, focusing on investments and corporate finance.
Going back to his roots
Mzila decided to combine his business sense with his love for farming.
“Farming has always been in the family. Our grandparents have a small farm about an hour outside Pietermaritzburg, and our parents grew up in a farming community too,” says Mzila.
Cherishing their roots, Mzila and his older brother, Nkululeko, established Nason Foods, a vegetable farm located in Meyerton, Johannesburg. From the moment they embarked on this journey, it became clear to Mzila that farming was not merely a business endeavour but a deep-seated passion and a way of life that had been ingrained in him since his days spent on his grandparents’ farm.
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Highly adaptable
Nason Foods began on 0.5 hectares but has since grown significantly to encompass three hectares, along with an additional two hectares on lease. Having been in operation for three years now, the company’s primary focus is to provide fresh produce to processors and retailers, with a supply of sweet peppers, cherry tomatoes, and spinach during the summer season. When winter arrives, the brothers shift their production to cabbages, spinach, and lettuce.
“During Covid, things got a bit tricky, and we had to make some adjustments to our business model. We decided to introduce door-to-door deliveries which turned out to be a massive success and resonated well with our customers. Once the situation started to improve and return to normal, we went back to our regular mode of operation,” he says.
Risk management is key
According to Mzila, the key factor that keeps their business going is effective risk management. He emphasises the importance of thinking ahead, assessing potential risks, and devising solutions before any issues arise. This approach has enabled him to successfully navigate through the unpredictable weather conditions in Johannesburg.
This mindset inadvertently led him towards creating an innovative and modern farm.
“In Joburg, we get a lot of hail, hot and dry sun, and a lot of wind in autumn and cold winters. To address these issues, we made a significant investment in infrastructure. Currently, we have five tunnels to protect our crops, and we also grow other produce under shade nets to provide additional protection from the elements,” he says.
“Farming is very interesting. It’s surprising that while many other industries have seen significant innovation, the agricultural sector has not experienced the same level of advancements at a grassroots level. I believe that young people entering the sector can bring fresh ideas and efforts to improve and uplift it.”
For Mzila, it’s not only about seeing profits and building good business relationships but finding gratification in producing a tangible product that feeds and brings life. “It is also exciting because when you produce something tangible, and people enjoy your products, you get a sense of satisfaction,” he says.
Getting out the blocks
The start was modest yet rewarding. He recalls how he and his brother began their journey from scratch, working tirelessly to establish markets. They started by selling to street vendors and small local retailers, gradually progressing to supply produce to larger retail chains like Spar and Pick n Pay. Eventually, their reach expanded to include food processors as well.
Throughout their rise, one word echoed consistently: quality. It was a lesson they learned and never forgot.
“Street vendors are great because they teach what a quality product looks like, for their particular market, and they are quite strict with it.
“For me, the journey has been gradual, and I’ve come to believe that quality speaks for itself. When you focus on producing top-notch products, you don’t need to put in extra effort because the quality itself attracts customers.”
Living the farming mantra
Mzila’s daily mantra is “Quality products get you good markets”.
“It’s a gradual process, and the big lesson is just to start because if you think too hard, you won’t get there because it is something that you can build incrementally as you get success in the field. Instead of constantly withdrawing profits, reinvesting them back into the business is crucial for sustainable development,” he explains.
This dedicated farmer also knows how to have fun without taking his eyes off the ball. “On the lighter side, I tend to be quite laid-back, and I make it a point to have fun throughout the farming journey. Being an outdoorsy person, farming is an ideal fit for me as it allows me to engage in activities like hiking and running. Overall, I thoroughly enjoy spending time outdoors.
“I keep motivated because I see potential in the business and I see where we could take it in the future, but secondly, we have grown to a point where we employ people now and they depend on us to a certain extent. One part is being able to support the families dependent on us,” he says.
“I just think if I were to drop the ball, how many people would lose jobs? Yes, I want to make it successful, but I want to take a whole lot of people who have been with me through this journey and helped us build this business.”
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