In South Africa, agriculture is central to fostering economic growth, reducing poverty and improving food security in the Southern African region.
The 2022 Inaugural National Presidential SMME Awards, established by the department of small business development and its agencies, the Small Enterprise Development Agency, the Small Enterprise Finance Agency and in partnership with the European Union and 22 On Sloane, celebrated the determination of South African small, medium and micro enterprises. Ltd, an entity run by Nonopa Tenza, took the inaugural award for rural-based SMMEs.
“We are passionate about farming and are serial entrepreneurs who have run several businesses over the years,” says Tenza. “Starting a farming business was both an entrepreneurial and social endeavour. We saw an opportunity to carry on a family legacy as well as utilise underutilised land to create jobs and fight the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment, and inequality in our area.
The business started small and has steadily grown to full capacity over the years because the demand for the produce keeps increasing. Kevinot Farming has benefitted extensively from support from the provincial department of agriculture through the local extension office, support from the Small Enterprise Development Agency and a farmer in the area who provides mentorship.
An inspiring farming family using wisdom, passion and business intellegence to support farming and agriculture NonopaTenza