BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE- For young people with big dreams and small farms, a chance to grow their agricultural ventures has arrived. The Eswatini National Youth Council (ENYC) is calling on youth with farming ideas or existing agribusinesses to apply for its Micro Agribusiness Accelerator Grant Programme, which offers financial support of up to E10 000 to help turn their ambitions into reality.
The programme, which seeks to assist 50 young agripreneurs, provides funding for small-scale tools, equipment, and essential inputs for vegetable, field crop, and livestock production. It targets young people aged 18 to 35 years, including youth with disabilities, as well as both start-ups and existing agribusinesses. Applications close on October 27, 2025, and interested applicants can apply online through ENYC’s official link at their Facebook page.
Speaking during an interview with this publication on October 8, 2025, Sibongakonkhe Mamba, Communications Officer at ENYC, said, “We want to empower young people to take agriculture seriously. This grant is an opportunity for youth to turn their ideas into businesses that can sustain their livelihoods and communities.”
Mamba added, “We are looking for passionate and committed young agripreneurs. This programme is not just about giving money it is about equipping youth with the resources they need to succeed in agriculture.”
The life-changing potential of the grant is exemplified by Nkosingphile Mavuso, a 33-year-old farmer, mother, and entrepreneur from Mpakeni in the Shiselweni Region. Nkosingphile first applied in 2023 after seeing the call on ENYC’s Facebook page.
She became a beneficiary of the Accelerator Grant: Crop Production, a project funded by the Taiwan Embassy and implemented by ENYC. Her grant of E15 000, including E8 000 in cash for seedlings and the remainder in fertilizers, sprays, and LAN, marked the beginning of a remarkable transformation.
Before the support, Nkosingphile could only plant around 1 500 tomato seedlings. Today, she cultivates over 6 000 seedlings, growing tomatoes, cabbages, green peppers, and butternuts, which supply a major supermarket in Hluthi, local markets in Hluthi and Nhlangano, and her community.
Her first profit of over E80 000 was a turning point, allowing her family to pay school fees, buy clothes, and live comfortably.
Despite experiencing losses in 2024, Nkosingphile persevered. She continues to expand her business and now employs local youth during harvests and peak seasons, proving that with the right support, young people can thrive in agriculture.
Mamba concluded, “We hope that many more young people will apply and take advantage of this grant. Agriculture can be a pathway to economic independence, and we are committed to supporting youth every step of the way.”
With the Micro Agribusiness Accelerator Grant, ENYC is planting seeds of opportunity, giving youth a chance not only to feed their communities but also to transform their lives through farming.
(Courtesy Pics)
