Nothando Mantfombi Mkhonta, a 31-year-old female farmer from Ejubukweni Etjeni La Jesu in the Maphalaleni constituency. She is the proud owner of The Hlung Farm, a thriving vegetable production business in Eswatini.
Mkhonta is a beneficiary of a novel initiative that integrates Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) in an entrepreneurship programme implemented by Junior Achievement Eswatini with financial support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands. Through the programme young entrepreneurs not only receive practical business and entrepreneurial skills which help them to start or scale up their business, but they are also trained on SRH. The information they receive equips them to reduce risks of teenage pregnancies, contracting HIV and other harmful behaviours that may hinder their entrepreneurship journey. Additionally, the programme teaches young entrepreneurs how they can integrate and practice this SRH knowledge in their own lives as well as in the corporate social responsibility of their businesses.
The Hlung Farm is located in Ejubukweni, an area with adequate water for irrigation, and specializes in growing high-quality greens like lettuce, green peppers, and cabbages.
With the SRH information gained through the initiative, Mkhonta now prioritises the health of her support staff. “We discuss SRH issues such as family planning with the ladies that support me on the farm,” the young farmer elaborates. “I also encourage taking care of their health because I understand that if we are all healthy, the farm will be more productive.”
Prior to participating in the programme, Mkhonta struggled with meeting the demands of her market which quickly changed in 2023 when she was awarded E10, 000 seed capital towards farm inputs - a benefit of the Junior Achievement programme. "Through the JA programme, my business has transformed," Mkhonta explains. "With their seed capital, I've increased production from 1,000 to over 3,000 seedlings. The entrepreneurship training provided invaluable knowledge on running a profitable business."
The Hlung Farm is a testament to Mkhonta's hard work, passion, and the power of supportive programmes like Junior Achievement that showcase the benefits of integrating SRH in economic empowerment programmes. As her business continues to grow, Mkhonta plans to diversify her crops, inspire aspiring young farmers to take care of their sexual reproductive health in order to meaningfully participate in the economy and gain financial independence, thus realising their potential.
