Mbabane – Young farmer Nothemba Hlanze has expressed her satisfaction with the National Agricultural Marketing Board (Namboard), describing her working relationship with the institution as fulfilling and supportive.
Hlanze, who recently ventured into farming, said she decided to share her story publicly to encourage other young people who may be hesitant to join the agricultural sector. “No one asked me to make this post. It is a personal decision,” she said. “I am still new in farming, but I am happy with the service I am receiving from Namboard. I don’t know if I am still in the honeymoon stage, but I am happy.”
Now in her second season of production, Hlanze explained that her farm’s output is too large for local supermarkets to absorb, which makes Namboard’s role in distributing her produce to other regions crucial. She said the organisation has been consistent in providing logistical and technical support.
Beyond market access, Hlanze commended Namboard for assigning her a dedicated extension officer, Bandile, who she described as a blessing from above. She said his commitment and passion have played a key role in her growth as a farmer.
“My field of study is accounting, but I have learnt so much from this dedicated officer. I call him anytime, and he always responds. When he is busy, he gets back to me and attends to whatever issues I have. Sometimes I send him pictures of plant diseases I cannot identify, and he jumps into action immediately,” she said.
Hlanze also shared that Bandile often goes beyond his job description to ensure her farm succeeds. “Sometimes I ask him to buy pesticides for me when he goes to town, and he does it without hesitation. There have been times when he even used his own money before I could reimburse him,” she revealed. “For all this, I do not pay him because Namboard takes care of his salary.”
She said her experience with other Namboard officers has also been positive. “Almost all the officers I have met have been helpful. Some have not even visited the farm but still share valuable information. For example, Goje, an extension officer from Manzini region, shared knowledge about potato farming with us,” she said.
The young farmer further spoke highly of Namboard’s drivers and logistics team, particularly driver Bongani Mavuso and his supervisor, Mr. Mavimbela. She described their professionalism and dedication as remarkable. “Sometimes we underestimate the harvest and finish later than planned. The driver never complains; he patiently waits until we are done. His supervisor also calls ahead before harvest to ask how many crates we will need and what time we will be ready for collection. It is humbling to know that they drive all the way from Ncabeni Market to Mantambe just to collect our produce,” she said.
Hlanze did not shy away from addressing the challenge of rejected produce, a common issue among farmers. She said Namboard maintains clear quality standards, which are publicly available on its website and the EHIS mobile app. “Every market has its own standards, and Namboard communicates its expectations clearly. Mistakes happen, especially when some of our harvesters are new, but we learn and improve,” she said.
She added that her extension officer continues to help her even when issues arise with rejected goods. “He will call and tell me, ‘Do not worry make H, I have taken care of it. I will bring your cash when I come that side.’ I am truly blessed to have this kind of support,” she said.
Hlanze also shared details of a recent delivery record reflecting the transparency and accountability in her dealings with Namboard. The CIVIC consignment dated April 22 under the reference GRN:69281 for pepper recorded a delivered weight of 673.5 kilograms, of which 608.5 kilograms were graded as A, none were classified as Grade B, while 65 kilograms were rejected due to small size, sunburn, and cracks. No produce was wasted in the process.
Reflecting on her journey, Hlanze described her partnership with Namboard as a positive learning experience. “There is so much more I could say, but I will stop here for today,” she wrote. “I am happy with my marriage to Namboard. To new farmers, it is not as scary. We are surviving.”
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