Africa-Press – Eswatini. Instead of joining the long line of job seekers, Sthandwa Hazel Dlamini chose to till the soil and create her own opportunities. The 2019 University of Eswatini at Luyengo Campus, Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics graduate from KaShoba, Siteki, is proving that farming can be both profitable and empowering for young people.
Speaking during an interview with this publication on September 2, 2025, Dlamini says, armed with knowledge but lacking capital, she farms a one-hectare plot, producing vegetable seedlings such as lettuce, beetroot, spinach, green peppers, tomatoes, and onions.
Despite challenges like insufficient water for drip irrigation, she remains committed to farming full-time and supplying local shops to reduce reliance on imported produce.
“I am my own boss. I don’t wait 30 days for an income, and I inspire many young people who ask me for agricultural advice,” she says. “If I could get more water and support, I would plant all year round and employ others.”
She also believes practical farming teaches more than classroom theory. “University gives you knowledge, but the real learning is on the ground,” she explains. She adds that any formal job would only serve as capital to expand her garden rather than replace it.
Her seedlings are sold at E25, E30 per 60 seedlings, with bulk discounts available. Deliveries are offered along the Lukhula–Mpaka, Mafutseni, Manzini route for E20.
Orders can be placed via WhatsApp or by calling 7635 6574 / 7949 8099.
“Giving up was never an option,” she says. “With my hands and God-given skills, I am building my dream.”
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