1. FIGHTING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT THROUGH ENTREPRENEURIAL PROJECTS AT UNISWA ; BEAN SEED PRODUCTION AND AGRIBUSINESS FAIR
SMILING THROUGH
INVESTMENTS

3. Presentation Outline Background Information Seed Bean Production
Agribusiness Fair and School Festival
Conclusions

4. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Smiling Through Investments was established in the year 2013
It is a youth own entity composed of seven shareholders
We specialize in bean seed multiplication
Contributions of E300/ shareholder

5. Organisational Structure
CEO
Marketing Manager
Financial Manager
Production Manager
Administrator
Public Relations
SALES MANAGER

6. MISSION
To become Swaziland’s main centre of excellence in providing exceptional and up-to-date Agribusiness services and quality agricultural products

7. Provide quality and affordable agribusiness services.
OBJECTIVES
Provide quality and affordable agribusiness services.
Provide fresh, quality and well packaged agricultural products.
Enable agribusiness promotion and use of locally grown products.
Develop and sustain the project as a recognized brand into the future.
Strive in growth and alliances as a youth established business

8. Important crop in our diets; High in protein [about 20%];
[1] WHY SEED BEAN?
Important crop in our diets;
High in protein [about 20%];
High demand for planting materials;
But seeds are scarce;
Expensive;
Shortfall met through imports;
Drain on foreign exchange

9. CROP MANAGEMENT Land preparation: Tractor
Beans are a legume but do not fix enough nitrogen to meet crop demand
Land preparation: Tractor
Planting: Tractor using special plates
Fertilisers:
Type: [38]
Rate [Amount]: 300kg/ha

10. BEAN VARIETIES & AREA (Ha)
Basic seed varieties (HaSSP):
Natal yellow – 2 Ha
Kranskop – 1 Ha
Planting dates:
Kranskop: Feb, 18
Natal yellow: Feb, 27
Hosted HaSSP Field in May 2014

11. FIELD [1/2]

12. FIELD [2/2]

13. Early in the morning to prevent splitting of pods when weather is hot.
HARVESTING [1/2]
Time:
Natal yellow, from 19 May
Kranskop, from 02 June
Method: Hand
Early in the morning to prevent splitting of pods when weather is hot.

14. HARVESTING IN PROGRESS [2/2]

15. DRIED BEANS TAKEN OUT OF GREENHOUSE FOR THRESHING

16. THRESHING

17. SEPARATING SEEDS FROM THE STEMS

18. AFTER STEM REMOVAL

19. POST-HARVESTING Cleaning Sorting Seed moisture test
Laboratory seed purity analysis
Laboratory seed germination test.
Grading
Packaging and labelling

20. CLEANING, SORTING & GRADING

21. PACKAGING & SEALING

22. 10 KG PACKAGED BEANS

23. CHALLENGES FACED
Unpredictable weather conditions (Too much/ Not enough rain)
Shortage of irrigation facilities
Time management as students
Management of company members.

24. [2] AGRI-BUSINESS FAIR 3-DAY EVENT Venue: UNISWA FACOS, LUYENGO
Date: MARCH 2015
DAY 1- AGRIBUSINESS SEMINAR
DAY 2- SCHOOL FESTIVAL
DAY 3- EXHIBITION AND CLOSING CEREMONY

25. DAY 1- AGRIBUSINESS SEMINAR
Official opening by Principal Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture
More than 50 farmers attended
Presentations by
National Maize Corporation, Swaziland
Swaziland Diary Board
Namboard (National Marketing Board) and
UNISWA Crop Production Rep

26. DAY 2-SCHOOL FESTIVAL Opening remarks by FACOS Dean
More than 20 high schools attended (Over 200 students)
Theme: ’’Promoting youth entrepreneurship development through Agribusiness’’
Presentations by:
Women farmer of the year
Two young entrepreneurs

27. SCHOOL FESTIVAL AUDIENCE

28. WOMEN FARMER

29. DAY 3-EXHIBITION [1/3] More than 200 stand visitors
11 Companies exhibited
More than 200 stand visitors
8 sponsoring companies

30. EXHIBITION [2/3]

31. EXHIBITION [3/3]

32. CLOSING CEREMONY [1/2]

33. CLOSING CEREMONY [2/2]

34. AWARDING OF CERTIFICATES [1/2]

35. AWARDING OF CERTIFICATES [2/2]

36. FUTURE GOALS Own a private farm Be a registered entity
Industrialisation of the seed bean project
Provide youth agribusiness mentorship
Ensure that the Agribusiness Fair is hosted annually for SADC

37. OUR MESSAGE TO AFRICA’S YOUTHS
Agribusiness is the way of life and a ticket to a food secure Africa by year 2025
The youth have a role to play in agribusiness.
There is need for collaboration and youth support amongst all relevant stakeholders.

38. THANK YOU www.smilingthroughinvestment.com
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