As Food For Mzansi concludes the 12-episode series on Agri SA Enterprises’ remarkable achievements in rural development, we shine a spotlight on a particularly inspiring story from the Nedbank Agribusiness Incubator programme. This initiative has profoundly impacted the lives of many farmers, including Botlhale Tshabalala, whose journey exemplifies the transformative power of this programme.
The Nedbank Agribusiness Incubator programme in collaboration with Agri SA Enterprises has been a game changer for Tshabalala. The programme provides financial support, invaluable advisory services, and mentorship.
Tshabalala credits various mentors for practical advice and online courses that have enhanced his farming knowledge and business acumen. These resources have empowered him to make strategic decisions, significantly improving his operations.
Improving herd and skills
“The Agribusiness Incubator programme has really come with a major relief off my back. With the funding I got from them, I was able to buy more production inputs and expand more on hectares. This incubator programme has helped me a lot by giving me that relief,” he said.
Before joining the programme, he faced numerous challenges. One major issue was the low conception rate within his cattle herd. With guidance from his mentor and insights gained from the MyLifeOnline courses, he managed to address this problem effectively, improving the productivity of his herd.
“One of the challenges was the conception rate or results I got within my cattle herd. I would often find that there was about 15 to 20 percent of females that did not get pregnant the whole year. But with the advice I got from my agribusiness incubator mentor and the courses I did, [online] I managed to improve the situation within my cattle herd,” he explained.
Additionally, the funding from the programme allowed him to purchase a combine harvester, eliminating the high costs associated with hiring machinery and enabling him to expand his production.
In this episode, Tshabalala also discusses:
- Collaborative efforts and innovation;
- Education as a tool of empowerment; and
- His future aspirations.
Want to know more? Listen to the full episode of Farmer’s Inside Track.
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Option 3: Click here to listen on Google Podcast.
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