Africa-Press – Eswatini. As the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE) waited on the wings to roll-out a ground-breaking E1.073 billion initiative aimed at tackling youth unemployment while revolutionizing the agriculture sector in April, 2025, there was already a huge impact with the Hamba Ubuye Commercial maize project which has drawn youth and women into agripreneurship like moths to flame.
EWADE continues to remove the key barriers to youth and women participating in agriculture, including land access, finance and technical support.
The Hamba Ubuye Commercial Maize Project has been a tremendous success with the Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg even singling it out in his budget speech on 16 February, 2025, by stating that the project will receive an additional E14 million to expand its footprint.
The 2025/26 national budget is planting seeds of growth for Eswatini’s agricultural sector with a massive E170 million injection.
The news of the E14 million added to the ‘Hamba Ubuye’ Project sounded like a sweet melody to the many farmers who have paid glowing tribute to His Majesty’s Government and to EWADE for changing their lives forever, turning struggles into triumphs and restoring wholeness to their lives.
With beaming smiles, gratitude, and a renewed sense of purpose, the farmers share to EWADE has turned their lemons to lemonade.
The 10th edition of the National Maize Corporation Awards held at Esibayeni Lodge in Matsapha during NMC’s 40th year anniversary celebration was a milestone as a total of E292 500 was distributed to the country’s leading grain producers.
NMC warned that Eswatini remains far from self-sufficient as the country produces around 75 000 Metric Tons (MT) of maize annually, well below the national requirement of 140 000 MT. NMC CEO Mavela Vilane noted during the event that the deficit continues to be covered by costly imports that drain the local economy.
Described by Vilane as a celebration of “excellence, resilience and progress” built over “four decades of partnership with Eswatini farmers”, the awards also highlighted key improvements in local food production despite persistent challenges, including rising input costs linked to global conflicts, climate variability and post-pandemic recovery.
NMC honoured several farmers and agribusinesses for outstanding achievements across additional categories.
Sibonginkhosi Johnson (32 years old) emerged as the Top Maize Farmer, claiming a prize of E40 000 worth of farming inputs after delivering a net mass of 258.08 metric tons, the highest in the country.
His win headlined a strong season in which the Top 10 farmers collectively improved their output by 28%, producing a combined 1172.6 MT of maize. Second place went to Mguciso Dlamini who supplied 130.64 MT while Mphephetse Mkhaliophi took the third position after producing 124.22 MT.
Below the farmers share their joy and also make a passionate appeal to both NMC and EWADE in the quest to achieve the country’s cherished dream of food sovereignty.
The overall winner of the Top Maize Farmer category has paid a glowing tribute to EWADE for providing the financial boost that expanded his production capacity with the revolving fund under the ‘Hamba Ubuye Commercial Maize Project’.
“Maize farming is the toughest business I have ever taken. I am happy that EWADE has supported us with the revolving funding, but we also need to thank His Majesty’s Government and NMC for the role they play,” Johnson said.
He said the NMC Farmers awards need to be set out in such a way that they benefit the farmers.
“The awards are good, and we appreciate them but we also need to investigate how we can make them meaningful. For example, I provided E1.6 million worth of maize to NMC but you don’t even win 10% of that.
I am not saying the E40 000 farming inputs is bad but if you were to win something like a Tractor it will motivate every farmer to work even harder,” said the 32-year-old Johnson added.
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