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- Want to Learn More About the Farming Business?
Want to Learn More About the Farming Business?
Are you looking for information on how to start a business in a specific industry? (For those looking for Business Ideas to Pursue during a Recession we have updated this list - READ HERE)
This week the focus is on the agriculture industry, we have been inspired by the BOOM in the number of fruit and vegetable delivery businesses in response to COVID-19. Are you supporting your local farmer/farm? Let's share!
This Week:
- GET Ideas for farming ventures to go into and where to apply for funding.
- PLUS keep an eye out for our new SME Solutions feature which breaks down how to buy the tech products you need to run your business.
Stay safe and healthy.
LESSON OF THE WEEK
“The same way we grow our bodies we must attend to our mind and spirit.” ― Nikki Rowe
The following post is sponsored by Visa.
Have You Checked Out the Visa Small Business Hub?
5 Reasons to Visit the Platform:
Learn about:- Using Visa business card programs. Get exclusive offers.
- Funding your business, including the different options available.- How to manage your money, including budgeting.
- Online sales - Get tips on building your online store’s presence.
- Different options available to SMEs for getting paid – learn which option is best for your business.
Farming Business Ideas – Get Inspired by these 5 Women Farmers that are Killing it!
Beekeeping
Mmabatho Morudi owns a beekeeping and agricultural produce business, Iliju Bee Farm, together with her partner Desmond Morudi in Winterveld, north-west of Pretoria. They also offer free bee pollination services to rural farmers.
Fynbos plants farming
Jacky Goliath, owner of De Fynne Nursery, grows more than 600 000 plants including Fynbos plants such as Protea, Leucospermum, Leucadendron, Erica, Buchu, etc., fruit trees, research material and crops in the Western Cape.
Lavender and wine farming
Ingrid de Waal is the owner of wine and lavender farm Canette Vallei, which produces lavender cut flowers, lavender essential oil, dried flowers and handmade soap.
Mixed farming
Thato Moagi is the managing director of LeGae La Banareng Farms, a mixed farming operation comprising of livestock, potato and maize crops, and an apiary based in Modimolle, Limpopo. READ THEIR STORIES
ALSO, DON’T MISS THESE AGRICULTURE OPPORTUNITIES:
AgriBusiness Funding Opportunities Available
Isivande Women’s Fund- This is an exclusive fund that targets black women at the bottom of the economic ladder.
Export Marketing and Investment Assistance- The Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) scheme is a government-sponsored grant that assists local companies to increase their competitiveness abroad by supporting patent registrations, quality marks and product marks.
Masisizane Fund- This fund provides development funding and business support to SMEs in the high-performing sectors of agribusiness, franchise, and supply chain/manufacturing.
Co-operative Incentive Scheme (CIS)- Promotes co-operatives through the provision of a matching grant, assists co-operatives to acquire their startup requirements and builds an initial asset base for emerging co-operatives to enable them to leverage other support.
Peulwana Agricultural Financial Services- Peulwana is a financial institution which was founded in 2009 to support small and medium-scale farmers and agro-processors in South Africa.
The Agro-Processing Support Scheme- This scheme aims to stimulate investment by the South African agro-processing / beneficiation (agri-business) enterprises.
- Promotes the entry and participation of black people in the entire agricultural value chain through the provision of funding for equity deals, acquisition of interests in agricultural entities and enterprise development (SMMEs).
National Youth Development Agency- The grant programme is designed to provide the youth entrepreneurs with the opportunity to access financial and non-financial business development support, for youth to grow their businesses.
Farmsol- This is a black-owned agricultural services company focused on incubating emerging farmers (Agri-SMMEs).******** Several agriculture cooperatives provide direct financing to farmers, for example, AFGRI, Suidwes Landbou, BKB, and NWK Limited.
***ALSO READ***What Does It Take To Be an ‘Agripreneur’?
SME Solutions - Let Us Guide You On Your Next Tech Purchase
Everyone is talking about how you should be using tech in your business BUT very few talk about how difficult it can be to buy the right product. We want to help - that’s why we are introducing SME Solutions, a tech buying guide to help you choose the right product for your business PLUS our top product recommendations for EVERY BUDGET.
Look out for our REVIEWS and RECOMMENDATIONS on the following:
- Company registration services
- Web hosting & domains
- Payroll software
- Accounting software
- Crowdfunding platforms
Did You Know that on Average a Business needs to budget around R350pm for Online Financial Management Tools?
How to choose the right product for your business: Choose a tool that works for you and your business. It is advisable though that you choose a product that is robust and as flexible as possible. Look out for these key features:
Basic accounting tasks such as invoicing, expense tracking, and client/vendor contact management.
Tax preparation.
Payroll processing, mobile access, and integration with programs such as point-of-sale software.
Top 5 tech products we recommend for your business:
Accounting software
A payment management tool
An inventory management tool
Cash Flow analysis software
Expense tracking software
Get more information on EACH of these financial management tools and best financial management practices here: Financial Management Tools for Every Business Owner
Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links and SME SA will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. All recommendations have been carefully considered and they are resources SME South Africa has found helpful and trustworthy.
Special Introductory OFFER - Sage is offering all SME South Africa readers a 30-day free trial. Get Access to: Sage Accounting
- Manage inventory, invoicing, cash flow, VAT, payments and more, from any device in the cloud.
Sage Payroll- Pay employees on time, easily and conveniently in the cloud.
Sage 50cloud Pastel- Accounting, inventory and payments. Supports Office 365.
About Sage: Sage is a market leader for integrated accounting, payroll and payment systems that are built to support entrepreneurs. A one-stop shop for all your financial management tools.
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Recently, we asked our tribe on Facebook 'What lesson have you learned in business recently?'Read their responses here. You can follow us on our social media platforms or join our community on our SME SA Forum - it's free to sign up.