{"id":73791,"date":"2025-07-21T07:15:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T07:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/eswatini\/all-news\/farming-builds-jobs-feeds-families-and-grows-futures"},"modified":"2025-07-21T07:54:27","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T07:54:27","slug":"farming-builds-jobs-feeds-families-and-grows-futures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/eswatini\/all-news\/farming-builds-jobs-feeds-families-and-grows-futures","title":{"rendered":"FARMING BUILDS JOBS, FEEDS FAMILIES, AND GROWS FUTURES"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Eswatini. <\/strong><\/span>Ernest Mahlalela (28) is redefining what it means to be a farmer in Eswatini proving that agriculture can be both profitable and progressive. Raised in Lomahasha, where farming was a family tradition, he now manages a thriving hectare of farmland in Luyengo. His journey reflects a growing movement of entrepreneurs transforming agriculture into a modern, scalable business with real economic impact.<\/b><\/p>\n

Ernest\u2019s connection to the land runs deep. Growing up in a family that farmed horticultural crops in the early 1990s, he learned the basics of planting, harvesting, and selling at kaMfundza market located near the Lomahasha Border Gate. \u201cMy parents gave us small garden plots,\u201d he recalls. \u201cWhatever we harvested, we sold and all the profits were ours. That\u2019s what gave me the hunger for agriculture.\u201d<\/p>\n

But unlike many who stop at subsistence farming, Mahlalela saw an opportunity to go further. In 2020, when he enrolled at the University of Eswatini\u2019s Luyengo Campus for a BSc in Agricultural Extension, he decided to launch his own farming business renting just 0.2 hectares of land to start. Over the years, he expanded operations to a full hectare, using innovative techniques and research learned through his degree programme.<\/p>\n

Balancing student life, business, and family was not without its strain. \u201cBeing a class representative from first to final year was tough,\u201d he says. \u201cThere was a point in second year I wanted to quit, but the class refused to let me step down. On top of that, managing a farm and being there for my family all at once life was teaching me Change Management as a course of its own.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mahlalela\u2019s success didn\u2019t come easy. From extreme weather like drought and heatwaves to pest invasions and soaring input costs, he has endured many setbacks. The worst was the hailstorm of 28 October 2023, which completely wiped out his crops. \u201cIt was devastating,\u201d he says, pointing to photos of flattened fields. \u201cBut I didn\u2019t allow that to end my story.\u201d<\/p>\n

Support from networks like the Eswatini National Agricultural Union (ESNAU) and partners like CFI played a critical role in his resilience. Through ESNAU\u2019s Step Up programme, Mahlalela won farm inputs, boosting his operations. Later, he was selected as a beneficiary of the SIMAMA project, an initiative that supports young agri entrepreneurs. These opportunities, he says, have sharpened his vision for long term growth.<\/p>\n

Beyond his own success, Mahlalela\u2019s impact ripples through the community. His farm creates jobs and supplies fresh, local produce proving that agriculture stimulates not just soil, but economic growth. \u201cThere\u2019s a bigger picture,\u201d he explains. \u201cAgriculture is a business that feeds families, builds livelihoods, and grows the economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also embracing the digital era. Direct to consumer sales through markets and online platforms have expanded his reach. \u201cI have seen demand for locally grown food rise sharply,\u201d he notes. \u201cConsumers want to support Swazi farmers, and that helps us grow even more.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the conversation around agriculture evolves, Mahlalela believes it\u2019s time for more young people to think differently. \u201cFarming is not just for old people or for survival,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s a modern business. It needs planning, budgeting, marketing, and smart use of technology.\u201d<\/p>\n

His message to the youth is clear \u201cJoin ESNAU. The Union offers training, exposure, and linkages beyond farming. We need more young people who are serious about making agriculture a career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, Mahlalela sees endless potential. With a growing customer base, support systems, and a passion rooted in both tradition and innovation, he\u2019s determined to turn every challenge into growth. \u201cI\u2019m not just farming to sell vegetables,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019m building a legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Eswatini<\/span> Follow Africa-Press<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Eswatini. Ernest Mahlalela (28) is redefining what it means to be a farmer in Eswatini proving that agriculture can be both profitable and progressive. Raised in Lomahasha, where farming was a family tradition, he now manages a thriving hectare of farmland in Luyengo. His journey reflects a growing movement of entrepreneurs transforming agriculture […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":73790,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,5],"tags":[249],"class_list":["post-73791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-economy","tag-eswatini"],"yoast_head":"\nFARMING BUILDS JOBS, FEEDS FAMILIES, AND GROWS FUTURES - Eswatini<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ernest Mahlalela (28) is redefining what it means to be a farmer in Eswatini proving that agriculture can be both pro ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/eswatini\/all-news\/farming-builds-jobs-feeds-families-and-grows-futures\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"FARMING BUILDS JOBS, FEEDS FAMILIES, AND GROWS FUTURES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ernest Mahlalela (28) is redefining what it means to be a farmer in Eswatini proving that agriculture can be both pro ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/eswatini\/all-news\/farming-builds-jobs-feeds-families-and-grows-futures\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Eswatini\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AfricaPressTunisiaa\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-07-21T07:15:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-21T07:54:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/eswatini\/sites\/33\/2025\/07\/sm_1753071780.075285.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/eswatini\/all-news\/farming-builds-jobs-feeds-families-and-grows-futures#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/eswatini\/all-news\/farming-builds-jobs-feeds-families-and-grows-futures\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/eswatini\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"headline\":\"FARMING BUILDS JOBS, FEEDS FAMILIES, AND GROWS FUTURES\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-21T07:15:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-21T07:54:27+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/eswatini\/all-news\/farming-builds-jobs-feeds-families-and-grows-futures\"},\"wordCount\":629,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/eswatini\/all-news\/farming-builds-jobs-feeds-families-and-grows-futures#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/eswatini\/sites\/33\/2025\/07\/sm_1753071780.075285.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Eswatini\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"economy\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/eswatini\/all-news\/farming-builds-jobs-feeds-families-and-grows-futures#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/eswatini\/all-news\/farming-builds-jobs-feeds-families-and-grows-futures\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/eswatini\/all-news\/farming-builds-jobs-feeds-families-and-grows-futures\",\"name\":\"FARMING BUILDS JOBS, FEEDS FAMILIES, AND GROWS FUTURES - 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