Growing Beyond the Garden - ENYC

In the quiet community of Mpakeni in the Shiselweni region lives thirty three year old Nkosingphile Mavuso, a mother, farmer and entrepreneur who has rewritten her story through the power of agriculture. Her life today is filled with hope, purpose and steady progress, but the path that brought her here was not always easy.

For years, Nkosingphile relied on small scale farming to support her family. She planted a few rows of tomatoes and other vegetables, hoping the harvest would be enough to feed her children and allow her to sell a little in the community. With only enough resources to plant around one thousand five hundred tomato seedlings, her income remained limited. She wanted to grow, but she did not have the means to take the next step.

In 2023, she came across an invitation on the Eswatini National Youth Council Facebook page. The council, under the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, was calling young people in the agriculture sector to apply for support under the Accelerator Grant for Crop Production. She took a chance and applied. When she learned that she had been selected as one of the beneficiaries, she felt a sense of relief and possibility that she had not felt in a long time.

Through the grant, Nkosingphile received fifteen thousand Emalangeni. Eight thousand was in cash for seedlings, and the rest came in the form of fertilizers, sprays and LAN. This was the beginning of a new chapter. With the support she received, she expanded her production beyond what she once thought possible.

Today, she plants more than six thousand tomato seedlings and produces cabbages, green peppers and butternuts. Her crops reach far beyond her home. She supplies a major supermarket in Hluthi, local markets in Hluthi and Nhlangano and community members who rely on her produce for their families. Her first profit was more than eighty thousand Emalangeni, a moment that changed the direction of her life.

“With this income, I am able to pay school fees, buy clothes for my children and create a stable home where my family can live with dignity”, she explained with a smile on her face that reflects both pride and gratitude.

Her journey has not been without challenges. In 2024, she experienced a financial loss that could have discouraged her. But she chose not to give up. She continued planting, continued learning and continued growing her business. Her resilience has become one of her strongest tools.

The growth of her farm has also created opportunities for others. During harvesting and peak seasons, Nkosingphile employs local youth who help her manage the increased workload. Through her success, she is opening doors for other young people, giving them work experience and a source of income.

Looking ahead, Nkosingphile dreams of expanding her garden even further. She wants to supply more shops, including those in Lavumisa. She believes that her farm

can become one of the main suppliers of fresh produce in the southern part of the country. With the determination she carries, this dream feels within reach.

Her story is a powerful example of what becomes possible when young people receive the resources they need to thrive. Through the support of the Taiwan Embassy and the Eswatini National Youth Council, she has built a business that not only sustains her family but strengthens her community.

Nkosingphile is more than a farmer. She is a provider, a mentor and a symbol of the strength that rises when opportunity meets dedication. Her fields are not just stretches of soil. They are a living testimony of hope, courage and the belief that youth can transform their own futures when they are given a chance.