CELEBRATING YOUNG LOCAL AGRIPRENEUR – ARMSDON NURSERY

Armsdon nurseries wholesale is a small-scale agri-business based in Macekane Reserve, just 7km outside the town of Empangeni. Armsdon nursery was established in 2017 by young agripreneur Don Mthembu. The business specializes on producing high quality vegetable seedlings, bedding of flowers and indigenous trees. The seedlings are grown in recyclable model 200 trays and using exported coco peat soil.

“When we originally started operations in 2017 we were only two, but today Armsdon nursery employs fifteen young people from the community”.- Don Mthembu 

“It is through hard work, dedication and the support from the Tronox Charitable Employee Trust and Uthungulu Community Foundation, that within a period of four years Armsdon nursery has experience a dramatic expansion and an increase in demand of our products”- Don Mthembu.

Armsdon nursery currently supplies both subsistence and commercial farmers within the Zululand region.  With the advent of COVID -19 pandemic, Armsdon nursery has partnered with various individuals and non-profit organisations to provide social relief and donated seedlings in an effort to promote healthy lifestyle and food security.

Elanjini is a Youth owned co-operative that has been existing for the past five years based in Mzingazi Area. The Foundation donated a 5000L jojo tank, irrigation system as well as seedlings.

Siyakhula Ladies is a woman driven project based in ZCBF, the co-operative is 100% Youth Owned and has been operating for the past six years, the co-operative consists of five female members. Siyakhula Ladies Group Primary Co-operative was formally established on the 7^th of June 2017. This co-operative specializes in bakery, it consists of five young women all based in Nseleni Township, under King Cetshwayo District Municipality.

The Foundation has assisted the co-operative to purchase the following baking items:

• Double door oven
• Baking stove
• Cake display
• 20L planetary mixer
• Baking stock