Meet Nicky Jafta who grew a R350 grant into a small farming business with a R20,000 turnover
The Kraaifontein resident also had lots of help from the South African Institute for Entrepreneurship which offered a course.
CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit speaks to Nicky Jafta, who started a vegetable farming business using his R350 Social Relief of Distress grant during Covid.
Listen below:
Nicky Jafta from De Novo in Kraaifontein used the government’s R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant during the Covid pandemic to start a vegetable farming business which has now grown into a flourishing small enterprise.
Jafta received help from the South African Institute for Entrepreneurship (SAIE) where he completed his certificate in Backyard Food Garden Training in 2023.
Jafta explains he initially used the grant money to buy seeds and compost to plant a veggie garden to feed his family. Now he is thriving as a microscale farmer, selling produce like spinach, squash, onions, potatoes and butternut.
Jafta harvested about 500 pumpkins last year and says his green beans are most sought after.
His customers are local community members in De Novo, Kraaifontein, Stellenbosch and the surrounding areas.
He made a turnover of about R20,000 last year.
"I was not working and I decided that I must do something to earn extra money and that's how I started with this business... Before that, I was planting a little bit here, a little bit there... and I started selling the stuff..."
- Nicky Jafta
"I used the seed money to buy seeds and compost which are expensive but it grew and expanded and expanded..."
- Nicky Jafta
"Last year, I was planting in a space: 100 x 100 square meters... This year, I'm on 200 x 200 now... It's State property and they gave me permission to plant on this land."
- Nicky Jafta
"It's a lot of work but I've got partners in crime... the South African Institute gives me the training and helped me a lot, they gave me advice on how to do my books and how to do my planning -- those guys, take me all the way."
- Nicky Jafta
To contact Jafta for produce call: 061 330 9345
Catch a glimpse of what Jafta sells in the video below posted by @saie.entrepreneurship on TikTok:
@saie.entrepreneurship Contact Nicky Jafta for his exact location. His number is in the video. Thank you
♬ Stylish Upbeat Pop - StevieBMusic
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.