Africa-Press – Eswatini. Minister of agriculture Jabulani Mabuza has challenged this year’s woman farmer of the Year Competition winners to tap into the opportunities in the commercial markets within Eswatini’s agricultural sector.
This was during the Woman farmer of the year competition 2022 sponsors lunch held at S&B restaurant in Matsapha yesterday.
Mabuza said the responsibility was on them to be the country’s main suppliers of produce and for them to succeed in that they needed to be self-reliant, consistent in market supply, self-sustainable and remain committed to their work in the fields.
“This could be done while the kingdom is in the quest for food security, the ministry is committed towards narrowing the level of imported horticulture produce from across the borders of Eswatini amounting to E1.6 billion, including processed foods, through the vision of supporting local suppliers by buying from them,” he said.
He urged the youth to make agriculture fashionable amongst their peers, not as a last resort to unemployment but as a measure to business development, farming of market-led crops, incorporating innovation, technology and good agricultural practices for economic freedom.
“Government through the ministry of agriculture in partnership with the woman farmer foundation has made efforts towards ensuring your exposure from grassroots level to market entry and progress further to obtain critical mass,” said Mabuza.
“I therefore urge each of you as farmers to grab this opportunity with both hands by introducing yourselves to the markets that have availed themselves here today,” he said.
He encouraged the youth not to hesitate to contact the woman farmer foundation for advice and business training as they were the leaders in agri-business and they would need all the business advice and mentoring to take you to the next level.
“This lunch is referred to as the ‘sponsors’ networking lunch” solely because it offers you the prospects of striking one or two great business deals that will stamp you as an official leading commercial farmer; this therefore requires you to make the first impressive step from here,” he said.
Woman Farmer Foundation (WFF) founder Sonia Paiva said this year they had a total of 160 participants, where 119 of them were under the adult category and 41 joined the youth category.
“As promised, we acknowledge and honour the sponsors, with this function we must express our deepest appreciation for your contributions,” she said.
Paiva mentioned that most of the sponsors had been travelling this empowerment road with them since the inception of the WFF and it was through their continuous partnership that this had all been made possible.
“We would also like to thank the markets for honouring our invitation to be part of this platform. We encourage the farmers to engage with them in establishing stable markets for their produce,” she said.
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