BY KWANELE TSABEDZE
NDZEVANE – The residents of Ndzevane and surrounding areas have had their lives transformed by Eswatini Water and Agriculture Development Enterprise (EWADE).
This was confirmed by one of the residents of Mahlabaneni, Phetsile Fakudze. Fakudze is employed in one of the farmer-led banana plantations which were created as part of the EWADE Lower Usuthu Irrigation Project (LUSIP) II.
Speaking to EPN during a media tour of the LUSIP II project, Fakudze revealed that she knew many people who had significantly improved their standards of living because of the employment offered by the projects.
“Lives have changed because people have been employed. I know men and women who used to struggle just to get enough food, and that changed when they got employed by one of the farms or operations that were availed under the EWADE project”, said Fakudze.
“Our future is bright,” said Fakudze, citing that they are targeting to get 14 tonnes per banana head in the Ngcongco farm where she works.
She also encouraged women farmers to join In on the opportunities, as there are opportunities for everyone under the EWADE enabled LUSIP II enterprises. Currently, there are 1038 male shareholders and 1021 female shareholders in the farmer companies formed under the LUSIP II project.
The Ngcongco farm is one of the plantations which is owned by a group of farmers from the area, having been capacitated by EWADE on how to work together and comply with all laws and industry standards as they set up and run a big farming operation. The Ngcongco farm is currently expecting to start harvesting its bananas in April-May of 2024.
