Social Entrepreneur Spotlight: David Njaidi

David Njaidi is a truly amazing man who has overcome many obstacles to get where he is today. In the past year David has transformed his enterprise, DAFA Farm, from being a simple subsistence farm with a few adjunct activities, to an ambitious one with multiple external services including education and microcredit loans. David’s progress and success are not for him alone, but for countless members of the Ngulube community.

The Impact of the Flame Tree Initiative

Before David joined the Flame Tree Initiative, DAFA was primarily a subsistence farm dependent on rainwater. David says that joining the DELab “opened my mind to opportunities in the agribusiness.”

Becoming part of the DEStudio helped David to develop his ideas further still. He especially appreciated lessons on practical permaculture techniques on how to increase yield on a small plot of land.

Knowledge exchange with other DEStudio members has helped David increase his technical capacity and has been a great source of motivation. DAFA farm has also benefited from the DEStudio training on digital marketing. With a redesigned logo and greater online visibility, David feels he and his enterprise are now much more ready for possible outside investment. 

The Future of DAFA Farm

Today, DAFA farm is expanding its reach to nearby communities. David has started an adult literacy program which has been incredibly valuable to the entire Ngulube community. DAFA farm is able to supply fruits, vegetables, and maize in bulk to the local market. Greater processing of these crops is currently in the planning stage, which will increase revenue and ultimately create additional jobs. David has also started a village bank where women can get microcredit loans.

Asked about his future goals, David shared: “We want to increase production of horticultural crops and to integrate livestock production [and] we are targeting international markets. We want the farm to assist in solving food insecurity and poverty. We have already set up our farm as a training hub, engaging the community in solving challenges such as illiteracy.”

Bright Days Ahead

People like David Njaidi are using their skills and inspiration to transform many lives. Enabling people like David to pursue their dreams in coordinated and supported ways creates widespread and lasting impacts throughout entire communities.