Africa-Press – Eswatini. What began as an unwanted childhood chore has blossomed into a purposeful journey for Khulile Precious Mhlongo, a young farmer from Lavumisa in the Shiselweni Region.
Khulile raised in a family rooted in agriculture, never imagined she would one day follow in her father’s footsteps. Let alone build a livelihood from the very soil she once ignored.
Her turning point came in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she, like millions around the world, lost her job. Devastated but not defeated, she returned home and asked her family for a piece of land. With beans and cotton as her first crops, she dug deep both literally and emotionally into farming.
“Losing my job made me realise I had to do something. I remembered how farming had taken care of us when my father was still alive,” she said.
Her late father was not only a provider but also a silent mentor. Through farming, he paid school fees and sustained the household. His example ignited a spark in her, despite the grief of losing him before he could guide her through the journey.
A key turning point came after she attended the Eswatini National Youth Council (ENYC) training on the “Mindset Change Programme” in 2023. “They taught us that nothing is impossible. That motivated me to start,” she recalls.
In 2024, she joined the ENYC Youth Indaba, where she interacted with other youth passionate about agriculture. “Seeing what others had achieved gave me the courage to keep going,” she said.
Although her application for funding through ENYC was unsuccessful due to a lack of a formal business plan, she received support from other organisations, which provided her with seeds and fertilisers.
“I didn’t have money to hire someone to write the business plan,” she noted.
Khulile encourages young people to invest their time in agriculture while waiting for formal employment. “Join programmes like ENYC and the upcoming RSTP STEM Expo 2025. They equip you with knowledge and connections,” she advised.
Her biggest challenges remain access to infrastructure and irrigation, but she remains hopeful. With time and support, she aims to expand her farm and inspire more youth to view farming as a business not a last resort.
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