By Tlalane Dlamini
MANZINI, ESWATINI – The Woman Farmer Foundation (WFF), in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, is preparing to host the prestigious 18th annual Woman Farmer Competition Prize Giving Ceremony. The event will honor the nation’s top female farmers, finishing a thorough selection process that started in September.
This year’s competition featured a record number of 247 women farmers from across the Kingdom, showcasing the increasing engagement and vitality in Eswatini’s agricultural sector.
The Manzini Region had the highest number of participants, highlighting its prominence in local farming activities. Contestants come from all four of the country’s ecological regions, with all farming taking place on Swazi Nation Land.
Rigorous Judging Narrows Field to Top 10
The competition has two main categories: the Youth category and the Adult category. The first round of selection, which took place from September 15th to September 30th, 2025, selected a Top 15 from each category.
This was followed by a second, more thorough judging phase. The panel of judges included experts from key institutions throughout the agricultural value chain, such as the National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBoard), the National Maize Corporation (NMC), World Vision, the Dairy Board, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Woman Farmer Foundation itself. This expert collaboration ensured a high standard of assessment, ultimately resulting in the selection of the Top 10 finalists in both the Youth and Adult categories.
Countdown to the Prize Giving
The highly anticipated Woman Farmer of the Year Award Ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, October 23, 2025, at Riders Ranch in Sidvokodvo.
The keynote address will be delivered by the event’s main speaker, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Mandla Tshawuka. The WFF extended its best wishes to all the Top 10 finalists, acknowledging their exceptional commitment and excellence in the field as the foundation prepares for the momentous prize-giving day. The ceremony is expected to attract key industry stakeholders and celebrate the essential role of women in driving Eswatini’s food security and economic growth.