Enterprise Development Projects
At Mabalengwe Agriculture, our Enterprise Development initiatives empower agricultural businesses and entrepreneurs, enhancing their sustainability, market readiness, and overall competitiveness. Through tailored mentorship, skills transfer, and comprehensive support, we help transform businesses into thriving enterprises. Below are some of our impactful Enterprise Development projects:
- Location: Ndumo area, Jozini Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province
- Participants: 100 chilli farmers
- Project Overview: Mabalengwe Agriculture partnered in an innovative initiative designed to uplift local chilli farmers, positioning them as reliable suppliers for Unilever South Africa. The comprehensive programme was built around providing specialized agricultural and business skills, aiming to strengthen farmer capabilities and market linkages.
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Objectives:
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Equip farmers with modern plant production techniques including:
- Site selection
- Seed selection
- Soil preparation and nutrient management
- Irrigation methods
- Pest and disease control strategies
- Effective harvesting methods
- Introduce value-addition practices and agro-processing methods, particularly in dried product production.
- Encourage sustainable farming practices, environmental conservation, and efficient resource optimization among participants.
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Equip farmers with modern plant production techniques including:
- Impact: This initiative successfully developed capable local suppliers, enhancing their productivity, income generation potential, and long-term sustainability, effectively positioning them within Unilever’s broader supply chain.
- Location: Delmas, Mpumalanga Province
- Participants: Five SMMEs from Construction, Agriculture, and Manufacturing sectors
- Project Overview: In collaboration with Exxaro's enterprise development initiatives, Mabalengwe Agriculture provided targeted mentorship and business support services tailored specifically to the unique needs of local SMMEs in Delmas.
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Objectives:
- Provide comprehensive business development support, including strategic planning, market analysis, and growth planning.
- Develop detailed, actionable business and marketing plans for each SMME mentee.
- Strengthen each business’s operational capacity, market competitiveness, and financial sustainability.
- Impact: All five mentees completed the programme equipped with detailed business and marketing plans, strategically positioned to accelerate their enterprise growth. The mentorship enhanced their operational skills and competitiveness, fostering inclusive economic development in the Victor Khanye Local Municipality.