Warren Mkhize - From YES youth to mushroom farming success

Cultivating success with YES - Warren Mkhize

Warren Mkhize's journey through the Nedbank Youth Employment Service (YES) programme began in his final year of studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2018. The prospect of finding employment was daunting. He was also participating in an entrepreneurship training programme from Nedbank. By his own account, YES has had a massive impact on him, both personally and professionally.

Through YES, Mkhize developed essential interpersonal skills, learned to navigate different personalities in the workplace, and improved his teamwork and conflict-resolution abilities. This experience helped him grow out of his shell and work more effectively with others.

The confidence gained from the YES programme inspired Mkhize to start his own business, Mycopro, which cultivates, produces, and sells oyster mushrooms in 200g punnets. However, Mycopro does not just focus on production. It also offers training courses for those interested in mushroom farming and provides farm extension services to help other mushroom farmers facing challenges like pesticides or low yields.

The entrepreneurial spark ignited by YES, coupled with the Nedbank training, led Mkhize to research successful businesses in South Africa. Discovering that mushroom farming was among the top viable options, he invested R5,800 from his YES salary to start Mycopro, and another R2,000 to buy a second-hand computer for managing his business.

Mkhize has successfully trained and supplied oyster mushrooms to commercial businesses and institutions. He has trained teams at the Durban University of Technology Enactus team and the Innobiz Durban University of Technology Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. His products have reached Quarry Super Spar, Parklane Super Spar, and Inksi Market Agent. Recently, he started producing his own seed to save costs and improve efficiency.

The most significant challenge Mkhize faced was sustaining his business, particularly as a self-funded entrepreneur who did not qualify for loans due to lack of credit. To overcome this, he learned how and where to sell his products, targeting high-end markets to maximise profit. He diversified his offerings by selling the materials used to produce mushrooms and even ventured into value-added products like dried mushrooms for spice or using offcuts as animal feed.

Mkhize’s story exemplifies how the YES programme can equip young entrepreneurs with the skills, confidence, and resources needed to turn an idea into a thriving business. His journey from student to business owner highlights the transformative power of strategic support and determination.