By: NOSIPHO MKHIZE | JOURNALIST
Lush, vibrant rows of sun-ripened strawberries spill over black mulch in a perfectly manicured display of nature’s candy.
Manzini- At 74 years old, Maureen Duduzile Gabuza is more than a farmer. She is a picture of resilience, discipline, and purpose. Based in Eswatini, she has built a life rooted in hard work and consistency, drawing from both her upbringing in a farming environment and her academic background in Economics.
She is also a caregiver and provider, supporting a household that depends on the success of her farm. For her, farming is not just about making money. It is about dignity, independence, and creating stability for those who rely on her.
“I have people who depend on me, so giving up was never an option,” she says.
Her calm but determined personality has helped her navigate the many uncertainties that come with agriculture. Patience, discipline, and a willingness to keep going have become some of her greatest strengths.
A Life Interrupted, A New Path Found
In 2004, Maureen lost her job. With that came the loss of financial security and certainty about the future. Faced with limited options, she made a life-changing decision: she turned to farming.
“I had nothing, no proper experience running a farm, no funding, just the willingness to start again,” she recalls.
What might have broken another person instead became the beginning of something new. Instead of seeing the land as a last resort, she saw it as an opportunity to rebuild. Step by step, she began turning a setback into a source of livelihood.
Learning Without a Manual
Maureen did not have formal agricultural training when she started. She learned by observing, asking questions, and staying open to advice from other farmers and agricultural extension officers. Over time, that practical approach became her classroom.
“I learned by asking, listening, and trying. Farming teaches you every day if you are willing to learn,” she says.
Her journey shows that success in farming is not always built in lecture rooms. Sometimes it grows from curiosity, humility, and the courage to keep learning through trial and error.
Maureen, turning job loss into opportunity.
Farming with Strategy and Purpose
Today, Maureen manages a 10.8-hectare farm, with about 3 hectares actively cultivated. She grows maize, strawberries, cabbage, beetroot, carrots, and spinach.
Her farming choices are deliberate. Maize helps secure food for the household, while vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, and carrots provide regular income from local sales. Strawberries, with about 5,800 plants on the farm, add a higher-value crop that boosts profitability.
“I don’t plant just anything. I choose crops that can feed us and also bring money consistently,” she says.
She uses sprinkler irrigation and draws water from nearby natural channels, helping her maintain production even during dry periods. Her methods reflect careful planning and a clear understanding that farming must serve both the home and the market.
Growing for the Market
One of the strongest lessons from Maureen’s journey is her understanding of the market. Rather than chasing distant buyers, she focuses mainly on selling within her community and to nearby customers.
Her thinking is simple but powerful: grow what people need regularly and grow it well.
“Food will always have a market. If you grow quality produce, people will come back,” she says.
This approach helps her reduce transport costs while building direct relationships with buyers. It also makes her model more practical for small and emerging farmers who may not yet have access to large-scale formal markets.
Weather, Costs, and the Will to Continue
Like many farmers, Maureen faces serious challenges. Storms, heat waves, and frost can damage crops within days. Rising input costs, especially electricity and fuel, add more pressure to an already demanding business.
Yet she refuses to give up. Instead, she adapts by adjusting planting schedules, diversifying crops, and improving her systems where possible. Her resilience is one of the clearest reasons her farming journey has endured.
Lessons from the Soil
Maureen’s story offers important lessons for others. Start small and grow gradually. Diversify to reduce risk. Learn from others. Understand your market before you plant. Most importantly, begin with what you have.
Her journey proves that success does not always start with capital or perfect conditions. Sometimes it starts with courage, discipline, and the refusal to surrender.
From job loss to managing a productive farm, Maureen has turned hardship into hope. Her story is not only about farming. It is about rebuilding life with purpose, one season at a time.
Contact details: 7618 5053
