Bartering trees for loans
Entrepreneurs are growing their businesses by exchanging homegrown indigenous trees for small business grants.
GREEN-preneurs across northern KZN are successfully establishing and growing their businesses by exchanging homegrown indigenous trees for small business grants.
The innovative small business development programme is run by Wildlands, a KZN-based environmental non-profit organisation (NPO).
Green-preneurs are people who grow and nurture indigenous trees and collect recyclable waste on their homesteads.
Both the trees, once they grow to 30cm in height, and the waste are bartered for livelihood support items and the trees allow business owners to qualify for small business loans funded by the South African Sugar Association (SASA).
Over the past two years, 80 000 indigenous trees were bartered for R500 000 worth of capital funding.
Diversity of enterprises
The programme has accepted 90 entrepreneurs from areas in rural KZN, including Ndwedwe, Khula, eSikhawini and Tembe.
Their businesses include poultry farming, vegetable and fruit farming, sugar cane, tuck shops and sewing industries.
‘Green-preneurs can barter their trees for up to R15 000,’ said Project Manager Sphiwe Mjadu.
‘Then we guide them through the process, ensuring accountability and helping them to build a more futuristic mindset and set bigger goals.
‘We also provide basic training around budgeting, record keeping and general business management skills’.
Mentorship is also provided, which gives individual attention to the entrepreneurs’ businesses.
Project management, funding and mentorship are provided by Mondi Zimele through its network of experienced business development managers.
Thanks to the project, all 90 entrepreneurs are now keeping financial records, are seeing significant increases in profits and are enjoying a sense of responsibility.
Sephronia Khoza, who runs a successful chicken farming business and has recently diversified into sugar cane, said, ‘I’ve learned to be responsible with finances, I’m also diversifying my business streams and creating job opportunities for others.’
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