I grew up in rural Eswatini, where life was mainly agrarian with heavy reliance on growing maize to sustain our livelihoods. With no access to irrigation systems, we depended on seasonal rains for good harvests. In 2012, our country experienced the longest dry season on record. Drought-induced low agricultural production soon became the norm, and our traditional farming practices could not keep up with the effects of a changing climate, undermining our capacity for sustainable food production in the future.
Many people around the world have gone through a similar experience. Chronic hunger and malnutrition resulting from the effects of climate change on agricultural productivity are becoming very common. This pained me so much that I began to dream of a world where everyone has access to nutritious, environmentally friendly, and affordable food. In this world, farmers are empowered to increase nutrient-rich food, decrease their ecological footprint*5 from farming activities, and alleviate poverty by creating green jobs*6 and long-term economic growth in the agricultural sector. In addition, a reduction of energy needed in our food production processes will help prevent excessive food waste.
This is the world I am trying to create with the Phalala Youth Empowerment for Food Security. In order to make this world viable, we are conducting policy research and advocacy*7 for sustainable food, agriculture, and natural resources, as well as building sustainable food production systems based on social justice and inclusivity. I also believe we must cultivate a new breed of young food practitioners, especially women, and equip them with the tools and resources they need to become active financial stakeholders within the agricultural economy. This is because although many rural farmers are women, their status as women puts them at a disadvantage in terms of financing and market position.