Social Entrepreneur Spotlight: Dumisanie Mambiya

Please Tell us about yourself and your enterprise

My name is Dumisanie Mambiya, and I am the founder of Food and Agribusiness Development Company (FADC). I hold a bachelor's degree in Agribusiness Management and have worked in the NGO sector, government sector, and in private consultancy for 7 years. During this time I have also been forming FADC. My enterprise works to help farmers, especially women, by providing them with implements, education, and a secure market in Lilongwe, Malawi. 

What inspired you to start your enterprise?

I am passionate about food security for rural people and creating decent jobs and economic livelihoods through agribusiness. I saw the opportunity of a growing demand for food and non-food products of agriculture, and decided to set up FADC in order to make a contribution in meeting my country’s and the continent's food and non-food basic requirements. Besides, I have always had a passion for farming, and I decided that forming a company around my passion was the way to go.

In what way is your enterprise most benefiting your community?

We are solving the problem of low productivity for smallholder farmers by supplying them with quality certified inputs to meet the world's demand for quality food. We are currently focusing on groundnut production and horticultural crops like vegetables and fruits which are of high value. We also are also providing a reliable market for farmers' produce by buying their produce. Thirty women farmers now have access to improved certified agriculture inputs, agriculture education and a readily available market through my enterprise.

How the flame tree Initiative helped you or your enterprise?

I participated in the 2019 DELab at LUANAR. FTI has connected me and my enterprise to like-minded social entrepreneurs who have inspired me and helped me shape my vision. Through the virtual workshops on digital marketing, becoming investment-ready, how to write a winning proposal and others, I have become more focused and open-minded to opportunities in the social enterprise space.

FTI has also connected me to a funding opportunity from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through World Connect. Through USAID, my enterprise obtained a grant of $3500 which we are using to grow our horticulture farming enterprise through a group of women farmers in Lilongwe district.

Do you have advice for other aspiring entrepreneurs?

I advise aspiring entrepreneurs to start. When you start, all other connections, support and financial investment begin to fall into place. In addition, they should aim to join a community of like-minded entrepreneurs in order to acquire fresh knowledge and skills for surviving the enterprise.

What goals do you have for the coming years?

We want to grow the number of farmers we are working with to at least 500 in 2 years time. We intend to employ market expansion, production expansion and diversification in order to grow as a company. We will explore new markets across Africa and beyond using the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). We will improve our groundnuts and horticulture produce by processing and repackaging nicely and we will diversify to other viable products like legumes and grains, as well as livestock.