By Bongani Mvubu and Sunday Masuku
If you told the 12-year-old girl helping her father plant maize in Mvembili, Eswatini that she'd one day run a seven-hectare commercial farm, she might have chuckled and gone back to chasing chickens. But here I am, Gcinile Fakudze, 31 years old, and proud to say I’m building an agricultural legacy born from love, sweat, and a deep respect for the land.
My story starts with my late father, a man who believed in nurturing not just crops, but potential. He didn’t just teach me how to farm; he empowered me. He gave me a small plot of land, provided the inputs, helped manage the crops, and then, get this, he let me keep every cent from my harvests. That act lit a fire in me. I realized I could grow more than food. I could grow a future. By 2012, I had officially launched my agribusiness.
Fast forward to today, and I’m cultivating seven hectares of family land, growing maize, beans, and vegetables with pride and purpose. Everything I’ve achieved and every breakthrough is rooted in that early mentorship, supported by training from extension services and driven by a refusal to give up. Farming has changed my life. I’ve built a beautiful home on my family’s property, ensured my child’s education is never a worry, and reached a level of financial stability I never imagined. While many of my peers still chase job opportunities, I’m grateful to say my land is my office, and every harvest is a paycheck.
I remember the day Mr. Mavela Vilane, the CEO of the National Maize Corporation, visited my farm. It was a moment of validation, proof that my work was not only being seen but respected. That visit opened doors: I secured contracts with NMC for my maize and beans and with the National Agricultural Marketing Board for my vegetables. Those partnerships have been game-changers, providing consistent revenue and helping my agribusiness thrive. But make no mistake, this journey hasn’t been without challenges. Access to funding remains a mountain young farmers are still trying to climb. We need institutions and government programs that truly understand the barriers we face and provide realistic, youth-friendly financing options.
And then there’s the climate. It’s unpredictable and brutal. The rains don’t come when they should, the sun sometimes scorches everything in its path. We need support to invest in protective infrastructure, shade nets, efficient irrigation systems, and tools that can help us fight back against climate shocks. My story is one of many. I represent a generation of young people proving that agriculture isn’t just a backup plan, it’s a bold, brilliant career. With mentorship, access to resources, and unwavering dedication, we can feed our families, our communities, and even our nation.
So here’s my message to every young person with dreams and dirty hands: farming isn’t old-fashioned. It’s the future. Let’s dig in and grow something extraordinary. The author is a Research Officer to the Ministry of Agriculture and CCARDESA ICKM Focal Point Person for Eswatini, and the other is the Extension Officer.
