The pair, biologist Mmakwena Moesi and software engineer, Amogelang Masi decided to come up with organic bio-fertilisers that would assist local farmers to get produce that is appealing to consumers. The two business partners through their company, Viva Organica, manufacture fertilisers using organic waste to support the resilience of farming communities in growing organic and nutrient dense crops to withstand recurring drought seasons, heat waves and erratic rainfall in Botswana. They currently have products in the market like Vermogrow and Bio Brew, a granular and liquid organic fertiliser.
Vermogrow is a granular fertiliser that offers good nutrition and crucial soil microbes. It can be used as a basal and top dressing for vegetables, ornamental plants, trees and lawn. On the other hand, the Bio Brew is an organic liquid fertiliser that gives plants a quick boost and immunity to withstand pests and diseases. In an interview with MonitorBusiness, Moesi said even though they have been working on their idea since 2016, their business only kicked off in 2020 when they secured a P100,000 funding from the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture. “The first few years after starting the business were rocky, we had to use our own money to fund our business and sometimes we used the sales revenue. The Youth Development Fund came in handy as we managed to build the infrastructure that we are using for production,” she said.
