Bridget Mkhondo is the Founder and Managing Director of BW & Daughter Farms, a venture which produces and sells organic vegetables and tomato-associated products. She graduated with a Master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Limpopo, South Africa and is a finalist for the 2023 Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans under the category of Rural Development Projects. She was also selected among four South African youth to participate in the 2022 National Youth Development Agency exchange programme, which took place at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. Bridget is deeply passionate about rural community development, entrepreneurship and women empowerment.
We caught up with her for an interview. This is how it went.
What motivated you to start your business?
Not sure if this qualifies as motivation (laughs), but after my contract with the previous employer ended in Dec 2020, I found myself back at home. I then decided to rehabilitate my late father’s vegetable farm. One year into the business, I realized there is a gap in the market. The demand for tomatoes far exceeded our production capacity. I would say, this was a light bulb moment for me and I then decided to pursue agri-business full-time.
What milestones/achievements have you had so far with regards to your business?
We have collaborated with agents from different parts of the country to supply them with tomatoes on a 5-year contract. We are also in the process of establishing a Tomato Growers Network, where we are collaborating with youth and women- led farming enterprises in rural areas to meet the demand for tomatoes in the SADC region. We have won several awards which include;
- Best Project, 2022, category of the Adult Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition created by Stiftung Entrepreneurship (Berlin, Germany)
- Africa’s Brightest Young Mind (In partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme), 2022 Cohort.
- Mail & Guardian 200 Young South African 2023, under the category of rural development.
- Winner of Excellence Actions for Global Youth Development 2023 by the World Youth Development Forum
What can be done for African youth, from both urban and rural areas, to take up agripreneurship in the region?
Entrepreneurship is a difficult path. If governments in the African continent can be intentional about supporting agri-preneurs or any other small, medium enterprises financially, I believe more youth will venture into entrepreneurship.
What are the key factors to consider before venturing into agri-preneurship?
For any business venture, not just agri-preneurship, it is very important to ascertain your market. Do a thorough market research. Talk to your potential customers to validate your problem statement.
What opportunities are available in agri-prenuership in Africa?
It is reported that the African continent has approximately 2.6 billion hectares of land and about 60 % of the land is considered arable. However, only about 20 – 25% of the land is currently under cultivation. I believe there are limitless opportunities in this field ranging from primary production of vegetables, fruits, field crops, livestock and poultry production. There are opportunities in agro-processing as well. But our governments should be intentional and step up to support and grow this sector.
Climate change such as flooding and drought, is a key factor affecting farm produce. How do you secure your business from the harmful effects of climate change?
By adapting climate smart farming practices such as planting cold or heat resistant varieties. We aim to invest in a water reservoir to combat drought.
What is your parting shot?
Just start. Start small and think big. Starting small will allow you to make mistakes and learn from your mistakes.
