Kapiza’s magic touch

Dina Kapiza is a recipient of the 2011 African Agri-business Entrepreneur of The Year award from Market Matters Custodians Incorporation. She speaks on being recognised as one of the best agro dealers in the whole of the Southern Africa and starting up her business from scratch.

How did you become an agro dealer?

I remember it was in April 2002 when CNFA was recruiting agro-dealers and I was one of the first to be recruited. During the training, there was a statement and I quote  “CNFA training + your hard work equals success.” These words inspired me. I prayed to God  for guidance.

On 1st July 2002, I opened my first shop, Tisaiwale, at Mponela Trading Centre. I had very little capital but I was determined to succeed. Before I opened the shop, many farmers had to trek over 40 miles to buy simple supplies. I was one of the first agro-dealers to be trained in agri-business management and later linked to supply companies with their credit guarantee scheme which enabled me to access inputs on credit.

Initially, I used to sell second hand clothes but later turned into a full-line farming supply store in rural Malawi. From the money I got from the clothing business, which was about K20 000 [about $132], I now turn over K 5 million [about $32 894] worth of farm supplies every year.

What significant change have you brought to the farming industry? And how long have you been in this field?

Presently, my shop serves about 600 smallholder farmers within a 15 kilometre radius. One of the main challenges to small-scale farmers is access to farm inputs. Most of the big companies fail to deliver farm inputs directly to small-scale farmers because they are afraid of making huge losses as many of these small-scale farmers do not buy farm inputs in bulk.

So, what agro-dealers do is to buy these inputs and repackage them in quantities affordable to these small-scale farmers. Apart from selling farm inputs, I also buy produce from small-holder farmers and provide free extension services through demonstration plots and field days.

The demonstration plots conducted teach farmers new technologies and help them select varieties that can enhance production. I also conduct soil testing to determine what type of fertiliser is needed depending on the soil type. I started agro-dealing over 10 years ago and serve over 3 000 small-scale farmers in Mponela, Dowa and Kasungu.

You are the president of the agro dealers association in Malawi known as Rumark. What are some of the challenges you face?

As a new president of Rumark, you cannot run away from challenges. Right now, I know many agro-dealers have high expectations from me. My plea to them is that we should work together to achieve our goals. The only way to deal with challenges is to work together and always be honest in our dealings.

What are some of the problems agro-dealers face in the country?

The biggest challenge, I think, is lack of capital- credit facility from lending institutions. Many lending organisations prefer that agro-dealers present some sort of assets which can act as collateral, but in Malawi, many dealers are not rich enough to produce such things.

Agro-dealers have recently been involved in many capacity building trainings. What impact has this made to the trade?

Of course, Malawi is doing a good job because we are also involved in the supply chain of inputs which was previously being done by Admarc, the government statutory body. Admarc depots are scattered and far for most of the small holder farmers. Now agro-dealers are close and are able to access both inputs and markets and sell them to these farmers.

Out of the 3000 registered agro-dealers in the country, a handful of these are women. What are you going to do to make sure that the number grows?

Very few women take challenges indeed. That’s what drove me to willingly take up the position, so that more women can wake up and say ‘look at what she is doing, can’t we also do it?’ I also do civic education in the villages on the importance of agro-dealing. Whenever there are meetings, I make sure I address both women and men to encourage them to take up agro dealing.

Recently, you received African Agri-business Entrepreneur of the year 2011 award from Market Matters Custodians Incorporation, South Africa, for being one the best agro-dealers in the whole of Southern Africa. How did you feel that finally your efforts were recognised internationally?

I feel greatly honoured and humbled. It is an inspiration and motivation and has built a sense of responsibility and confidence in me. I feel like doing more, I just ask God to continue helping and guiding me to help those who need help.

What was the criteria used in selecting winners?

The incorporation asked for my profile which I sent. I believe that they also did some research on what women agro dealers are doing in Africa and the impact they are bringing to small farmers. After their research, they informed me of the award and invited me to the presentation ceremony.

Market Matters is an independent, not-for-profit, international development organisation which was founded in 2002. It develops and implements capacity and network-building programmes that put marketing principles, in the open. They also try as much as possible to work with small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets and their focus is the sub-Saharan Africa. Among others, the purpose of Market Matters Inc. is to improve the marketing and product strategies of small-to-medium size firms in emerging markets so they can make a greater contribution to the standard of living in their respective communities.

Did you expect to win the award?

To be honest, the award has taken me by surprise. I feel greatly honoured to be conferred such a big award. I dedicate this achievement to God, my customers, the small scale farmers, as well as my children who are always around carrying out different tasks to make the enterprise grow. I feel God wants to tell the world that what a man can do a woman can ably do as well.

As a woman, what do you plan on bringing to the table?

I am a woman yes, but I think, act, and perform like anybody else. I am the interim president of the agro-dealers association. Our goal is to help government reduce hunger and poverty at household level through provision of farm inputs closer to their doorstep at affordable packs and prices.

We also want to act as one voice when issues affecting us need to be addressed by government. I know this is a challenging task and some men look down upon me but I know with God‘s intervention, I will succeed. With patience, understanding of the issues at hand and the ability to do the right thing, people will begin to respect us.  We hope to succeed through engaging ourselves in dialogue with the government so it can create a conducive environment for us.

We know government is doing something but we would like it to do more; especially for women farmers and agro-dealers who have little or no access to land ownership and loans due to lack of collateral. I am also training my children to be hard workers so that when God calls me to eternity, the business should not collapse. I want this to grow.

What have you learnt in agro-dealing?

I have learned one thing:  It’s a great opportunity to learn more as it sharpens ones skills.

You mentioned that your children are part of the business.

I am widowed with 10 children. We work together as a family business and I want them to learn all business ethics from me so that they can value add and help grow the business.

My late husband helped grow and nurture a business culture in me and through this, I learnt the power of determination. Due to all I learnt from him, I keep working hard even when difficulties present themselves. I believe his spirit is still with me and the children.

When all is said and done, how would you like to be remembered?

I want to leave behind a business that will inspire others; I want women to feel that they too can do a business, maintain it and let it grow. I want women to believe in themselves. I want them to learn that all it takes to become successful is determination and hard work.  I would like my children to take this business to a higher level when I join my husband in eternity.

Who are you?

I am Dinnah Kapiza (nee Nkomazi) a retired primary school teacher. I come from Kambatuwa Village, TA Kaluluma in Kasungu District. I am a widow with 10 children. I went to Nkhamenya Girls  Primary where I got selected to Kasungu Secondary School. I then proceeded to St Joseph‘s Teacher’s Training College. I taught in primary school for 25 years before retiring in 1997.

Do you have any last words?

All trained and aspiring agro-dealers should take Rumark trainings seriously. Female entrepreneurs need to know that the sky is the limit. Take it from me. As our president always says; our country is not poor but our minds are. We have the resources but we need to utilise them if we are to succeed. Let us work hard in everything we do.