Success Story: Jubukweni Vegetables Producer Group

Jubukweni Producer Group is one of the producer groups supported by the Financial Inclusion and Cluster Development Project, aimed at empowering smallholder farmers through collective action, improved market access, and sustainable agricultural practices. By bringing together farmers under a structured cluster model, the initiative enhances productivity, strengthens financial capacity, and fosters economic resilience within rural communities.

Producer Group Overview

Jubukweni Producer Group is one of the producer groups supported by the Financial Inclusion and Cluster Development Project, aimed at empowering smallholder farmers through collective action, improved market access, and sustainable agricultural practices. By bringing together farmers under a structured cluster model, the initiative enhances productivity, strengthens financial capacity, and fosters economic resilience within rural communities.

The farmer producer group consists of 64 members, with a balanced representation of 29 male and 35 female farmers. The group has a strong youth presence, with 33 young farmers actively participating (16 female, 17 male), demonstrating the engagement of the next generation in sustainable agriculture. The group collectively manages 21 hectares of farmland, with 12 hectares currently under production, optimizing land use for agricultural activities.

In the 2024/2025 financial year, the group achieved total sales of E134, 991, reflecting the economic contributions and productivity of its members. This performance underscores the group's commitment to increasing agricultural output, enhancing livelihoods, and fostering sustainable farming practices.

Capacity Building Initiatives

The FINCLUDE Project, in collaboration with key partners like CFI, NAMBOARD, the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), and other stakeholders, has implemented a series of capacity building and training initiatives aimed at strengthening the skills and knowledge of Farmer Producer Group members. These initiatives focus on key areas that contribute to both individual and collective growth.

• Group Governance & Dynamics: Training in effective group management, decision-making, and leadership, empowering
  members to run the FPG efficiently and inclusively.
• Vegetable Production: Practical training in the cultivation of diverse crops such as cabbages, lettuce, spinach, green peppers, tomatoes, beetroot, onions, and green beans, equipping farmers with the knowledge to enhance productivity and crop diversification.
• Constitution Development: Guidance on
  drafting and implementing a robust constitution for the group, ensuring clear structures and roles that support long-term sustainability.
• Regional Exposure Visits: Visits to successful farming operations, including tomato farms and packhouses, providing hands-on learning and exposure to best practices in farming and post-harvest handling.
• Financial Literacy & Cooperative Training: Training focused on improving financial management skills, understanding cooperative principles, and enhancing business acumen for members to better manage their collective and individual finances.
• Access to Finance: Support in connecting farmers with financial institutions such as NEDBANK, Eswatini Bank, and IMBITA, enabling access to credit, loans, and other financial services that can fuel growth and investment in their farming enterprises. The project has assisted two farmers from the producer group to access finance through Eswatini Bank. The total loans that were given to them amounted to E138 366.00. The farmers were able to upscale their production through the funding they have received through the project. They also have a savings group in which they save for procurement of inputs as a cluster. In December they were able to save up to E9 000 which they used to purchase 20 000 seedlings of green pepper.