…Researched and contributed by Jack Sylva.
Zintle James, a 24-year-old pig farmer from Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape, is embarking on an inspiring journey towards becoming a successful entrepreneur.
Her interest in pig farming was piqued during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, after coming across a post on social media.
Although her father owned two pigs at the time, she had never considered using them to start a business.
Expanding Her Knowledge and Enterprise
While idling at home during the pandemic, James spent more time on social media and was exposed to more information on piggery.
After joining Facebook pages on farming, she decided to start a focused project and bought two more pigs, piglets, and feed using her own funds.
She then used cash savings from her internship with the Eastern Cape Department of Education to purchase another pair of male and female pigs in July 2022.
Scaling Up with the NYDA Funding
In November 2022, James was able to scale up her pig farming operations with the R45 000 funding she received from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).
This funding allowed her to purchase 10 piglets, leading to her impressive 90-pig herd today.
With the commercial breed she purchased using the funding, she hopes to grow her business and supply commercial clients.
Future Goals and Advice
Currently, James is sustaining her business by selling to her local community but has plans of running her own butchery chain store in the future.
She urges other young people looking to secure funding from the NYDA to be patient and meticulous with their applications.
As long as they have all the necessary documents in order, they will have a chance at securing funding.
Commentary
Zintle James is a great example of a young person who has taken advantage of the opportunities presented to her during a difficult time.
Her interest in pig farming, fueled by social media, led to her enterprise that has now grown into a successful business with the help of the NYDA funding.
Her vision for the future of her business is ambitious, and it is inspiring to see a young woman breaking into a male-dominated industry.
Her advice to other young people looking to secure funding is also valuable, as it emphasizes the importance of being prepared and patient when applying for funding opportunities.