Nhlalwenhle Rapodile and Thomas Nxumalo
Nominee's Province:
Gauteng
Age:
25
Project Name/Description:
Nhlalwenhle Rapodile and Thomas Nxumalo don’t call themselves farmers. They prefer the word “agripreneurs” to describe the agricultural enterprise they have been running since 2022. “Farmer is a limiting word. It doesn’t describe the full scope of what Thomas and I do. We are invested in every part of the value chain from growing to distribution,” says Nhlalwenhle. Another word which describes the process adopted by the intrepid pair is “slow”. Unlike many young men their age, the Meyerton agripreneurs prefer not to chase profit over the quality of their produce. “Profit in farming doesn’t come as easily as in other business. The whole economic pipeline needs you to build and build, unlike other businesses where you have stock and sell. In farming you have a lot of waiting,” says Nhlalwenhle. “We don’t modify our veg with GMO’s; we are patient.” The next step for the ambitious friends is to use Nhlalwenhle’s qualification in public administration to secure government grants and funding to scale their business, Fresh Flow Farms.
