About WFF
Our Vision
Our vision is to identify, recognize, and develop a corps of model women and youth farmers across Swaziland who will inspire and capacitate/ mentor their communities in an effort to mitigate the effects of rural poverty
Our Mission
The Woman Farmer Foundation strives to empower and develop women and youth in the agricultural sector, in the process uplift their low social and economic status.
Our Focus
The main focus of the foundation is empowerment of the girl child and woman living in the rural areas of Eswatini. However, our focus on youth is not necessarily particular to females but is rather inclusive of both male and female youth. We intend to empower, educate, and develop our foundation members and competition beneficiaries through agriculture and agribusiness training.
Objectives
To carry out the organisation’s mission with the following objectives:
- To establish a framework that will promote active participation of Swazi women and youth in agriculture.
- Capacity building of women and youth farmers on business management in agriculture.
- To establish farming networks and associations for all agricultural produce.
- To provide incentive for strong community women and youth farmer networks by creating a structured programme designed to enhance their participation in farming.
- To enhance and strengthen community-based women and youth farmer networks through sharing of best practices, linking to market forces and the role of the government.
- To create linkages with market forces so that Swazi women and youth networks can market their produce.
Founder and History
Mrs. Sonia Paiva is the founder and Managing Director of Woman Farmer Foundation. Paiva, a multi-award-winning serial entrepreneur, founded the Woman Farmer of the Year Competition in 2007 before registering the foundation in 2010. Having achieved much success as a self-made businesswoman, Paiva felt it key to look back and uplift other women. She made sure that the women who take part in the competition grow in the business and are aware of their rights and capabilities. She makes sure that these women get all the necessary assistance they need in order to thrive in the business world. Up to now, over 3500 women and youth in Eswatini have been empowered through this project.