Linda Nghatsane started Exilite in 2011 and says she has gained valuable experience over the years. They have seasoned practitioners employed and are B-BBEE compliant as a level 3 contributor. Her business is further certified for compliance in food hygiene and safety for primary production, on-farm produce handling, and sweet potato processing. “It was established to help children below the age of five due to community and household food insecurity.

“We farm various crops that include among others green beans, spinach, baby marrow, cucumbers, and disease-free sweet potato vines of various varieties (supplied according to the preference of the client) that are sourced from the Agricultural Research Council VOP in Pretoria,” she told the Herald. “We add value to through processing such as orange-fleshed sweet potato that is processed into flour, then further into pasta. We also make jams from various fruits that are sourced from the farming community in and around Tzaneen,” she said.

Also read: Plaaslike boere ondersoek sonenergie

Their innovation has led them to produce an Exilite skin care product that is enriched with natural plants and essential oils. Exilite is involved in community development initiatives that assist Drop-centres situated in rural areas to strengthen their food production initiatives using climate-smart agriculture and conservation agriculture principles. “Currently we have a staff of eight. Our products are supplied to Spar, Boxer as well as households, local hawkers, and national fresh produce markets in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Springs, and Cape Town.”

Her company has won numerous awards: The CEO of Global Continental Lifetime Achiever Award in 2018, CEO Global Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government, Titans Building Nations Award (Agriculture Sector), Continental Winner AgriSector of CEO of Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government and Titans Building Nations Awards, Regional Winner (SADC-South) in Agriculture Sector of CEO Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government Awards and Country Winner in Agriculture Sector of CEO Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government Awards (South Africa) in 2016. To contact Nghatsane, email info@exiliteproducts.co.za or exilite499cc@gmail.com.