The Woman Farmer Foundation (WFF) has once again demonstrated the power of youth-led innovation in agriculture with the graduation of 163 young agripreneurs from its Climate-Smart Youth Tunnel Production Training Programme 2025, encompassing Cohorts 8 to 11.
The graduates successfully completed the intensive programme out of 172 participants who initially enrolled, marking a significant achievement for Eswatini’s agricultural and youth development agenda.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Minister Bongani Nzima on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka, commended the graduates for their perseverance and commitment to the sector. “Today, 163 young agripreneurs graduate out of the 172 who began the programme. This achievement is a testament to your resilience, commitment and passion for agriculture,” said the minister.
He expressed deep appreciation to the programme’s strategic partners, acknowledging the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for sponsoring 160 students, Unicorn United Kingdom for supporting 12 students and the WFF as the implementing institution. “To Sonia Paiva and her team, we value your visionary commitment to empowering youth and championing innovation in agriculture,” he added.
Minister Tshawuka highlighted that the programme is closely aligned with Eswatini’s National Development Plan, the National Agriculture Investment Plan, the Climate-Smart Agriculture Framework and the Youth Development Policy. “These policies call for increased productivity, enhanced resilience to climate change, strengthened food and nutrition security and greater youth participation in a market-driven agricultural economy,” he said.
He noted that the training equips graduates with practical skills in tunnel farming, sustainable agriculture, agribusiness management, entrepreneurship, value addition, quality control, insurance and access to finance.
Addressing climate change commitments, Nzima said the programme directly supports Eswatini’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0). “The use of solar-powered, automated fertigation systems, drip irrigation and protective tunnel cultivation is exactly the type of innovation envisioned in our NDCs to conserve water, reduce emissions and build resilience,” he said, adding that the initiative mirrors global priorities reaffirmed at COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
With women accounting for 65 per cent of participants, Tshawuka described the programme as a strong driver of gender inclusion in agriculture.
Turning to the challenge of youth unemployment, the minister said the programme was designed to produce job creators rather than job seekers. “You are now capable of establishing your own production enterprises, supplying local markets, reducing vegetable imports and training other youth in your communities. Agriculture is no longer a sector of last resort, it is innovative, technology-driven and profitable,” he said.
Delivering her remarks, WFF Director Sonia Paiva reflected on the programme’s growth since its launch in 2021. “We started with just 21 students and today the programme has trained 371 young people, becoming a national model for climate-smart youth empowerment,” said Paiva.
She noted that graduates have gone on to establish successful agribusinesses, win national awards and contribute meaningfully to food production and economic development.
Paiva acknowledged the challenges facing the programme, particularly limited resources amid growing demand. “Each year, we receive hundreds of applications, yet funding and infrastructure constraints limit the number of youth we can support. Expanding this programme requires collective effort, because supporting youth in agriculture is an investment in the nation’s future,” she said.
She expressed gratitude to the Embassy of Taiwan, the Government of Eswatini, development partners, trainers and technical experts for their continued support.
Addressing the graduates directly, Paiva urged them to carry the programme’s values forward. “Sustainability is a journey, not a destination. As you leave the WFF for the farm, remember: The smartest harvest is one that feeds both people and the Earth,” she said.
Graduates’ voices:
Lesihle Thwala
Data Analyst and Founder of The Bean Basket
“My experience with the Innovative Climate-Smart Tunnel Production Project has been transformative. This programme, focusing on agribusiness, tunnel farming and sustainable agriculture, offers a powerful model for addressing critical issues like unemployment and food instability in our communities.
We learnt first-hand how tunnel farming provides a controlled, protected environment essential for climate change adaptation. For The Bean Basket, this innovation was leveraged through a major deal with an organisation to start production of high-quality bean seeds for farm chemicals, securing a vital supply chain while boosting local enterprise.
The project taught us the quantifiable value of protecting crops from extreme weather, resulting in predictable yields and superior quality, a smart, sustainable approach to entrepreneurship. This skills development program empowers local participants to become climate-resilient producers.
In closing, I extend my deepest gratitude to the WFF and the government of Taiwan for their invaluable sponsorship and support of skills development programmes across the country.”
Noxolo Nkambule
Broiler Farmer and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business Management
“The Smart Tunnel Farming programme offered by the Woman Farmer Foundation has been a truly transformative experience for me. The training exposed us to innovative agricultural techniques that are practical, profitable, and relevant to the realities young farmers face today.
Through this programme, I learnt about smart tunnel farming, effective irrigation systems, and the importance of crop selection, especially indeterminate crops that allow farmers to harvest continuously and maximise income.
Beyond production, the training emphasised sustainable farming practices, climate-smart agriculture and the importance of treating farming as a business, not just a survival activity.
What stood out the most was the balance between classroom learning and hands-on practical work inside the tunnels. This approach made the concepts easy to understand and gave us confidence to implement what we learnt on our own farms.
This training has inspired me to want more, do more, and become more as a young agripreneur in Eswatini.”
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