BY KWANELE TSABEDZE
MBABANE – Tractor, Water tanks, generators, wheelbarrows, cash and more!
These are just some of the prizes which were awarded to winners in the 2022 Woman Farmer of the Year Competitions. In total, the winners walked away with over E293 000 in cash prizes in addition to farming inputs. The awards were presented yesterday in Mbabane.
Winners in the competition included Mathanda Sikhondze who won first place in the Youth Category, who walked away with E57 000 in cash and a water tank, generator, wheelbarrow and other farming inputs such as fertilisers and seeds. First place winner in the Adult Category was Nomsa Mngometulu, who won E125 000 in cash, as well as multi tractor, water tank and other farming inputs.
Speaking on behalf of the judges, Poultry Extension Officer Nonhlanhla Ndlandla said that it took them about two weeks to evaluate the finalists in the competition.
“We looked at how the farmers are managing their businesses, how she takes care of her home, and how the farmer engages herself in sustainable development in the community,” said Ndlandla when explaining the evaluation criteria.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Minister of Agriculture Jabulani Mabuza encouraged women to take bold steps in the business of agriculture.
“There is no passion to be found playing small, in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. The women we are celebrating today have persevered through a tough season, and are reaping the rewards of their labour- post COVID-19 and have been an epitome of not settling for less,” said the minister.
He acknowledged the challenges facing farmers, urging them to find alternatives and make farming work as the inputs become more expensive and the climate changes.
“The ministry supports you a lot. We are very determined to continue supporting you and be proud of you where we have to speak about you,” said the minister.
Youth category first place winner Mathanda Sikhondze accepted the minister’s challenge, saying that this competition is just a start.
“We are yet to show that we are indeed farmers by producing quality crops consistently. The country is banking on us to attain food security. Let us make them proud,” said Sikhondze.
The Woman Farmer of the Year Competition 2022 was the 15th edition of the competitions, as hosted by the Woman Farmer Foundation in Eswatini.
