LIMPOPO – Resident Vhuhwavho Mamelasigidi is proof that passion, perseverance and creativity can turn even the smallest start into success.

The 27-year-old from Maniini village near Thohoyandou is the owner of Favoured Nursery, which she launched with just R350.

Mamelasigidi’s love for agriculture started at home, planting sugarcane and maize meal as a primary school learner.

At Marude Secondary School, she started growing spinach and selling it to her community.

She holds a diploma in plant production from the Madzivhandila College of Agriculture and an advanced diploma in agriculture management from Unisa.

After completing her studies, she turned her backyard into a nursery, repurposing materials from an old chicken house to build her first seedling structures.

The R350 helped her buy cement, shade netting and a nursery signboard, while her parents contributed additional support.

She started with just five trays, growing vegetables like mustard, spinach, tomatoes and flowers for clients from Thohoyandou, Muledane, Sibasa and Tshilamba.

“My goal is to become a commercial nursery farmer, create jobs and ensure food security by producing high-quality seedlings at affordable prices,” said Mamelasigidi.

She dreams of expanding to a larger farm, supplying not only backyard gardeners but also commercial farmers.