MBABANE – Agribusiness can make you super-rich.
This was evident today when two women won lucrative prices worth over E200 000 because of their passion and outstanding skills in farming.
Zintombi Dlamini-Sikhondze, a nursery farmer from Siphofaneni took home E145 997 after she was crowned the 2021 Adult Woman Farmer of the Year.
Another woman who won big is Vuyisile Lauretta Bhembe from Nkhaba. Bhembe, who owns a nursery, piggery, poultry, and vegetable business, was crowned the Youth Woman Farmer of the Year, taking home E74 739.
The female entrepreneurs were crowned during an event held at Riders Ranch in Sidvokodvo today.
Speaking during the event, Minister of Agriculture Jabulani Mabuza said government has observed an increase in all the categories of the competition as new enterprises such as strawberries and taro have been added.
“We are happy with that as we strongly encourage farmers to diversify their production systems,” he said.
He continued: “I urge all farmers to ensure they follow the recommended agronomic practices of increasing crop yields such as proper variety selection, liming where required, application of adequate fertilizer, timely weeding & spraying. Let us increase our productivity.”
The Woman Farmer of the Year competition started in 2007 and is an initiative of businesswoman Sonia Paiva, who later launched a Woman Farmer Foundation in 2014.
