… About 80 emaSwati youth to benefit from FINCLUDE project
BY FIONA MOTSA
MBABANE– Financial Inclusion for all!
The Centre for Financial Inclusion today officially launched ‘FINCLUDE Programme’.
This program is in partnership with Eswatini National Agriculture Union and seeks to support young people in agriculture to identifying suitable products through a match-making process.
Youth Farmers will earn a kick- start to support their businesses and will further ensure that they are supported with bank accounts to create essential banking records.
Making her remarks at the launch, FINCLUDE Project Manager Phumzile Nhlengethwa said the project would be launched in the form of a competition.
“After the official launch today, we will also launch a competition whereby 80 youth farmers who will participate in the FINCLUDE Project will have access to the products.”
Nhlengethwa further mentioned that the products did not give out cash but inputs for their businesses.
“The products we offer do not include cash amounts but instead we purchase business inputs for the youth. This is because we are avoiding the youth taking loans and instead we provide them with inputs for a good head start,” said Nhengethwa.
Minister of Agriculture Jabulani Mabuza said Agriculture could address the issue of unemployment amongst the youth.
“Agriculture can address the issue of unemployment amongst the youth and I am excited that the youth have overcome thinking that farming is for old people. I am happy to be a part of this and my request to the youth is to encourage more youth from all four corners of Eswatini to join Agriculture because there is always a future there to support themselves,” said Mabuza.
Minister of Finance Neal Rijkerberg said that Agriculture was the foundation of our Eswatini and channeling resources towards it would be beneficial.
“Today is the beginning of an important journey as we are launching the first three financial products that will benefit emaSwati under the FINCLUDE Project.
“Agriculture is the foundation of our country and it is of paramount importance that we channel resources towards our youth and encourage them with a wide range of opportunities available in the Agriculture sector,” said the Minister.
