Women Entrepreneurs Sweep RYEEP Agribusiness Pitch Finals in St Ann

Women-led enterprises claimed the leading positions in the Rural Youth Economic Empowerment Programme (RYEEP) National Agribusiness Pitch Competition, with female participants finishing first, second and third at the final round staged at the Cardiff Hotel in Runaway Bay, St. Ann, on Thursday, May 21.

Marshanna Furze, a business operator from Westmoreland, secured the $1-million first-place award. Sherine Henry finished in second position, while Rachel Knight placed third.

The event was put on by the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, working with the HEART/NSTA Trust and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining. The finalists delivered strong business presentations focused on the promise and inventiveness of farming and agro-processing ventures led by young people.

Thirty-eight entrants took part at the regional qualifying stage, from which 12 were chosen for the national finals. Those finalists then presented their business ideas in pursuit of financial backing.

Miss Furze told JIS News that the prize will go towards growing her enterprise, T&C Livestock Farm.

She said the period before the finals was difficult, explaining that the labels prepared for her product samples had been printed with errors. “Everything went wrong for me to come to this competition. Everything, down to my outfit was [ruined], because this wasn’t what I had planned to wear today,” she said.

Even so, Miss Furze said she remained determined to improve on her regional showing. “For the regionals, I did not bring any products, and the presentation didn’t have any pictures. So, for the finals, I came here today to win the million dollars. I ensured that everything was on point,” she noted.

She was moved to tears when her name was called as the winner. Miss Furze said that, after finding out about the printing problem, she tried to borrow money to fix it, but was told by someone that she should not make the effort because she would not win.

“So, this [victory] to me, is like proving them wrong, to let them see this on national TV to see that your words did not define me,” she said.

She also thanked the organisers and sponsors for creating a space in which small farmers could access support. “I just want to tell them a very big thank you for putting this programme together so small farmers like myself can have this opportunity to win and scale up our production,” she said.

Second-place finisher Sherine Henry received $500,000, which she plans to use in strengthening her ‘Mocho’ spice brand. “This will definitely aid me tremendously in my business venture to purchase my solar dehydrator and upgrade my processing facility,” she said.

Miss Henry said the value of the competition went beyond the cash award, as it introduced participants to networks and institutions they might not otherwise have reached. “It’s an awesome privilege, as you get exposure to different entities and companies that you wouldn’t have known about. Through the 4-H Clubs and HEART/NSTA Trust, many opportunities became visible to me,” she noted.

Rachel Knight, the third-place awardee, received $250,000. She said the experience helped her develop both personally and as an entrepreneur. “I have expanded my horizon to participate and to not be so shy and reserved as I was initially,” she shared.

Miss Knight said her ‘Shepherd’ agricultural business brings together livestock rearing and crop production in a vertically integrated operation. She intends to apply the funding to expanding the venture.

Odean Bernard, Manager of Business and Entrepreneurship Development at the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, said the heavy damage suffered by agriculture because of Hurricane Melissa reinforced the decision to proceed with the National Agribusiness Pitch Competition.

“We knew that this year we had to do something; we couldn’t stop, despite all the turmoil and damage,” he pointed out.

RYEEP is a major programme coordinated by the Jamaica 4-H Clubs and HEART/NSTA Trust. It seeks to support young people through training, capacity development, technical assistance, coaching and innovative financing, while improving access to agricultural technology and encouraging innovation.