There was thunderous applause when a young student farmer from rural Eastern Cape and Studentpreneur of 2023, committed at the EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity finals on 22 November, to give back to the programme that has helped him to grow his business and achieve success.
“I was helped by the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme team to shape and advance my dream, and bring relief to my community. I feel it is my privilege and duty to give back,” Mr Ntsabo (below), founder of Qombe Maize, told the audience.
He intends to discuss the amount and nature of the prize and the category it should support with Dr Edwell Gumbo, Director: Entrepreneurship, Universities South Africa (USAf). “I also offer an agricultural package for one finalist who ventures into farming at the 2025 Finals,” he added.
According to the 27-year-old’s narrative at the 2024 EDHE Intervarsity national finals, his 2023 win had uplifted an entire community in his home village of Qombe, in Idutywa.
When he won in 2023, the then 2nd year Adult Community Education & Training student at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) solemnly declared that his R120 000 prize would go to doing good.
This year, he came back to show that he had done just that. And he brought TikTok videos photographs and testimonial videos to prove it.
In the past year, Ntsabo has exceeded even his own expectations. He had planned to expand and plant 50 hectares of maize, but planted 130 instead.
“I said that we needed to fence-in our farmland, and thanks to the R120 000 I received from EDHE (he won both Existing Business, General category and was declared the overall winner which won him a further R100 000) I was able to do just that.
“I am happy to say that our entire land is now fenced and well protected, the work having been done by two previously unemployed community members, Mr Luyanda Kalityi and Mr Mhlangabezi Mhambi.”
In 2024, Ntsabo added to his business portfolio, starting a new project that produces 100% organic liquid fertilizer, QombeGrow Organic (left), derived from chicken waste. “The product is not on the market yet, as it is still being tested. Hopefully we will be able to commercialise it by June 2025 when we are sure it works.”
He has also started bottling pure honey through Qombe Maize and Projects, the bees having feasted on his crops to produce the organic honey.
Another sideline introduced in the last year is Qombe Veg, from which he produces mainly cabbage. Members of his community tend the fields and bring in the harvest.
This year, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, he built Qombe Greenhouse.
“I live in a community where the spirit of Ubuntu exists. When I won, the young boys came to me and said, ‘Boetie, can you teach us how to be like you’, and I said: ‘I want you to be better than me.’ I began teaching them the basic principles of agriculture.”
He then showed the Intervarsity finals audience pictures of the young boys assembling growing boxes for the greenhouse, and helping with the planting.
Ntsabo not only produces high-quality maize; he also trains youth from his area in basic farming principles.
In addition, he is playing a mentoring role for budding business people.
“I was part of the student entrepreneurship week at our university WSU. The presentations were very impressive; witnessing the students’ innovations first-hand was mind blowing.
“As a judge in the competition, Ntombizonke Ntombizonke’s idea – of designing a tracking device for animals, completely blew me away. I am now mentoring her.”
Ntsabo further narrated that he was invited to facilitate an innovation and agriculture elective at the Robben Island Spring School, attended by participants from five African countries (Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia and South Africa).
With Potato South Africa, he oversaw a project that focused on sustainable agricultural practices. “I challenged a group of ambitious young people to create a business plan to start their own business on Robben Island. They came up with the idea of planting potatoes on the island and have called their business Robben Island Potatoes.”
The enterprising farmer puts community at the forefront of everything he does, both in his village and in the neighbouring area. A shortage of food in his region during the CoViD pandemic led him to start Qombe Maize – named after his village.
To meet the increasing demand for a nutritious and sustainable food source, he produces high-quality yellow hybrid maize using modern agricultural practices to ensure optimum yield and superior grain quality. This evidently impressed the 2023 judges.
Making a difference
In his own words: “Qombe Maize addresses social challenges that include inequality, unemployment and poverty while teaching skills in maize production and other farming activities.”
His family of five includes his parents, Ncediswa and Mthiyiseli Ntsabo, and brothers Tozamile and Bayanda.
Charmain Naidoo is a contract writer for Universities South Africa.