Judite Macuacua

"For 4 days I was surrounded by people from across the world either working in the same field or looking to invest. I learnt so much, made important contacts and most of all it gave me enormous self confidence." Judite Macuacua, from Mozambique, enthusiastically answered.

EMRC: Give us a brief background as to when Wissa was started and the current situation.

Judite Macuacua: Well, in 2008 the Mozambique government launched a national program to get people involved in the cereal sector, which was lacking in human resources. Through this program I acquired essential know-how and decided to launch a business project, which was the beginning of Wissa.

I initially started cultivating cassava, an African staple. I quickly realized there was a market and today I now produce 300-400 kilos per month and I employ 12 people in the field and 2 other people to help me manage the business. 

I have also diversified to produce bio-products from cassava, such as tapioca and rhale. Rhale is a sub-product which is made up from peanut, sugar and flower to produce a highly nutritious product. This is a product which is very important for people in rural areas of Mozambique who do not always have enough nutrition in their daily diets.

I also have gone into farming a local olive known as gergelim, which is widely used in Turkey so I have an opening for export at the international level. I am also doing this with beans and a Mauritius company has contacted me. The peanut side of my business is also for the local and international markets.

EMRC: Why did you decide to get into the cassava business?

JM: There was a government drive to get people involved in this sector and they were offering training and know-how about the business side. It was a golden opportunity for me to acquire knowledge and I threw myself into it. Which, looking back, was a very good and positive decision for me and for the people that I have now managed to employ.

EMRC: How do you view the business environment in Mozambique for SMEs likes yours?

JM: I think there are pros and cons.

Our country has found stability and this has greatly affected the business environment. It has allowed entrepreneurs to actually see a future and plan for the long-term. This is the basic and essential requirement to establish a real business environment. So this is very positive for the country.

However, there are also fundamental business incentives that need to be improved. This is especially true of high loan rates, making it impossible to take out a loan to expand the business.

There is also a bit of a lack of government support.

EMRC: What has been the most significant hurdle that you have faced in developing your business?

JM: Without a doubt I would have to say accessing finance. I have set up this business with my own personal money because when I saw the rates to take out a loan it made no business sense. To start the business I have put in my own money and I have managed to establish something but in order to go further and really grow, I am faced with a hurdle. I need to find financing but unfortunately the interest rates are too high for me so for the moment I cannot expand.

EMRC: What do you believe is the most important factor for Mozambique’s private enterprises to find success in the coming years?

JM: You may think I would say access to finance but before that I would definitely say accessing know-how. The reason why I managed to start a business is because I was given the know-how. Without that, I would not have even been able to or tried to invest and find money to finance my business. So it is very important that the government supports training and knowledge building so that people across the country first learn how to start a business. Without knowledge nothing can really be achieved.

EMRC:  How important are meetings such as the EMRC forums for businesses like your own?

JM: Well I went to my first EMRC forum, the AgriBusiness Forum in South Africa, in October 2011 and it really changed my business – it brought it to a new level, an international level. I definitely made the right decision to go. For 4 days I was surrounded by people from across the world either working in the same field or looking to invest. I learnt so much, made important contacts and most of all it gave me enormous self confidence. I was being listened to and people were interested in my project.

Since attending this forum I have been contacted by the international media and I have been contacted by people interested in investing or becoming business partners. Actually, this forum has changed the course of my business in the best possible way.