By Lindelwa Dlamini
MBABANE – The Woman Farmer Competition (WOFACO) has extended the deadline for their competition to July 31, 2024.
This was done in response to the overwhelming number of farmers requesting to participate even after the initial deadline, which was June 28, 2024.
Speaking to Women Farmer Foundation (WFF) Communications Officer Teresa Mdhluli said that the annual Woman Farmer of the Year was a prestigious event dedicated exclusively to honouring the enterprising nature of women. She said its main purpose was to empower women to excel in the domain of business and strive for perfection in their pursuits in farming.
“This extension was also necessary as some regions received their application forms later than expected. The primary objective of this competition is to empower women in agriculture by providing them with an opportunity for growth and change. Our aim is to ensure inclusivity and participation for all individuals, without leaving anyone behind. The deadline for submission has been extended until the 31st of July 2024. Farmers are strongly encouraged to continue participating in the competition and application forms can be obtained from all Rural development Areas’s (RDA’s) nationwide, Agricultural input shops, the Ministry of Agriculture, and they it can also be accessible online”, she said.
She further urged and motivated every female farmer across the nation to engage in this competition. Mdhluli said it was essential to recognise that every participant in this competition emerged as a victor. “This platform offers a unique chance for farmers to gain exposure in the agricultural market. Being donor-funded enables WFF to organise workshops and provide essential information to the beneficiaries by hosting them. This approach facilitates WFF in identifying the locations of farmers, their crops, and the challenges they encounter and how assistance can be provided,” she said.
The online forms are accessible in both the Siswati and English languages. Please refer to the links provided below for more information.
1.English: https://bit.ly/womanfarmeroftheyearcompetition-eng
2:Siswati: https://bit.ly/womanfarmeroftheyearcompetition-swati
