… Awarded with farming inputs worth E142,000
BY KWANELE TSABEDZE
SIDVOKODVO – “I want to say thank you to the Woman Farmer Foundation for the great work they are doing.”
These were the words of Gugu Patricia Mndzebele-Shongwe who was today crowned the Woman Farmer of the Year in the 16th edition of the annual Woman Farmer Competition.
Shongwe was awarded with prizes worth E142,239, at an awards ceremony graced by the newly sworn-in Minister of Agriculture, Mandla Tshawuke, at the Riders Ranch at Sidvokodvo today. The prizes received by the Lwandle-based Woman Farmer of the Year included a mini tractor, water tanks, seeds, feed, and pesticide equipment, to name a few.
Shongwe came out as most exceptional out of 285 applications received for the 2023 Woman Farmer of the Year Competition (WOFACO). Shongwe has a farm at Lwandle in Manzini which grows vegetables, chickens, goats, maize, indigenous chickens, as well as fruit trees.
Of the top 10 contestants who were recognised and awarded, Shongwe was followed at number two by Nokuthula Mkhabela Matsebula from Ndlandlameni in Manzini. Mkhabela was awarded with equipment and farming inputs worth E58,734 to continue her enterprise rearing goats, indigenous chickens, rabbits, and bees.
Position three in the 2023 Woman Farmer Competition went to Ntombizodwa Zanele Mavimbela-Masuku from Ekupheleni in the Hhhohho region. Mavimbela was recognised for her exceptional agricultural enterprise which primarily focuses on vegetables. She was awarded with farming inputs and equipment worth E50,356.
The top eight list was composed by the following farmers.
- Tiletsile Mkhatshwa – E28,907.50
- Nurse Dlamini – E13,720
- Siphephisile Dlamini Mamba – E12,370
- Khetsiwe Vilakati Maziya – E9,470
- Lomathemba Methula Khathwane E7,070
Also present for the 2023 Woman Farmer of the Year Competition Awards Ceremony was the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Phila Buthelezi, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development Apollo Maphalala, Manzini Regional Administrator, Chief Gija, and Members of Parliament including Mbabane East MP, Welcome Dlamini.
The top 10 youth Woman Farmers were also awarded in today’s awards ceremony, with the winning farmer, Makhosazana Mngomezulu, walking away with farming inputs worth E56,879.
