BY SIBUSISEKILE NDLANGAMANDLA
MANZINI– For young emaSwati looking for opportunities to build businesses, create livelihoods and contribute towards the country’s food security, agriculture could increasingly become one of the most promising spaces to explore.
Young and emerging agribusiness leaders have been challenged to look beyond traditional farming and position themselves to benefit from opportunities presented by the growing green economy.
Ministry of Agriculture Principal Secretary Sydney Simelane says Eswatini’s agricultural future will depend significantly on young people who are prepared to innovate, invest and transform farming ideas into profitable and sustainable enterprises.
Speaking during the Powering Profit Symposium, held under the theme “Unlocking Green Economy Opportunities for Sustainable Trade,” Simelane encouraged young entrepreneurs to view agriculture not only as a means of producing food, but also as a serious commercial sector capable of generating income and building sustainable businesses.
He urged emerging farmers to embrace climate-smart agricultural practices as changing weather patterns increasingly affect production.
Among the approaches highlighted were drought-tolerant crop varieties, short-season crops and high-grade, high-value niche crops that could give farmers greater resilience while improving their chances of earning better returns.
For young farmers entering the sector, this means choosing crops and production systems that are better suited to prevailing climatic conditions instead of relying entirely on traditional production methods.
Simelane said adapting agriculture to changing climatic conditions could help farmers protect their investments while simultaneously improving productivity, resilience and profitability.
Climate change and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns have made planning even more important for farmers, particularly those operating businesses where a failed harvest could translate into substantial financial losses.
The Principal Secretary therefore encouraged farmers to make greater use of meteorological information before making critical decisions.
He said seasonal forecasts and early-warning advisories issued by the Ministry of Meteorological Services could assist producers in determining appropriate planting periods and deciding when agricultural inputs should be applied.
Access to reliable and timely weather information, he indicated, could make the difference between farmers reacting to difficult conditions after losses have already occurred and preparing their businesses in advance.
Livestock producers were equally encouraged to improve efficiency.
Simelane called for effective feeding and management strategies, particularly during dry periods when reduced grazing and water availability can place livestock under pressure.
Improved resource management, he said, could help farmers safeguard animal health while maintaining the commercial viability of their operations.
The message emerging from the symposium was that modern agriculture requires farmers who are prepared to combine traditional knowledge with information, technology, climate awareness and sound business management.
However, Simelane stressed that transforming Eswatini’s agricultural sector could not be left to Government alone.
“Government cannot achieve this transformation in isolation,” Simelane said, noting that sustainable enterprises depended on cooperation between different stakeholders.
He encouraged young entrepreneurs attending the symposium to use such platforms to establish relationships with experts, financial institutions, innovators and other players who could assist them with investment, financing, technology and access to markets.
For an emerging farmer, access to finance and markets can be just as important as the ability to produce.
Without reliable buyers, technical knowledge, appropriate technology or sufficient capital, promising agricultural ideas can struggle to grow into sustainable businesses.
Greater collaboration between Government, the private sector, financial institutions and development partners therefore has the potential to open more doors for young people interested in commercial agriculture.
Simelane said the Ministry of Agriculture remained committed to supporting farmers through research and extension services, appropriate policy frameworks and trade facilitation.
The Ministry is also working with partners such as the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) as part of efforts to strengthen opportunities within the sector.
At the heart of Simelane’s message was a call for young people to become active participants in determining where Eswatini agriculture goes next.
“The future of Swaziland’s agriculture strength rests in your hands,” he told the young and emerging agribusiness leaders.
His challenge places young farmers at the centre of a bigger national objective — strengthening Eswatini’s capacity to produce more of its own food.
Simelane stressed that food sovereignty should mean more than simply having enough money to purchase food whenever it is needed.
Instead, the country should strengthen its ability to produce food locally so that families and communities remain supplied even during periods of economic, climatic or other difficulties.
Greater domestic agricultural production could also create opportunities throughout the value chain — from farming and processing to packaging, transport, retail and export markets.
For young emaSwati, this creates an opportunity to see agriculture differently: not merely as working the land, but as an industry capable of producing entrepreneurs, innovators, employers and commercially successful businesses.
The green economy adds another dimension by encouraging enterprises that use resources responsibly, adapt to environmental pressures and remain productive over the long term.
As Eswatini pushes towards stronger local food production and greater economic resilience, the challenge placed before young agribusiness leaders is clear — the country needs a new generation of farmers who can combine innovation, climate-smart practices and entrepreneurship to turn agriculture into sustainable profit.
And for the young people prepared to take that challenge, the fields of Eswatini may represent not only a source of food, but a growing source of opportunity.
(Courtesy Pic)
