“Life Is in Farming” | Ernest Gamedze on Lomveshe’s E3.9M ENIDC Loan & 44ha Banana Enterprise

Lomveshe Enterprise Chairperson Ernest Gamedze shares the story of how a community-owned banana farming business in Gundvwini grew from a government-supported initiative into a 44-hectare commercial agribusiness. In this podcast, Gamedze reflects on Lomveshe Enterprise’s journey from its establishment in 2017, the support received from EWADE and the Ministry of Agriculture, the E1.6 million worth of banana seedlings provided through Taiwan ICDF, and the E3.9 million loan from the Eswatini National Industrial Development Corporation (ENIDC) that helped stabilise and strengthen the enterprise. Today, Lomveshe Enterprise is owned by 39 active community shareholders and supplies bananas to local vendors, NAMBoard and export markets. Despite facing hailstorms, cold seasons, high electricity costs, theft and other farming challenges, the enterprise continues to prove that community agriculture can create jobs, generate income and support rural economic development. Key themes covered: ▶️ Building a community-owned banana enterprise ▶️ The role of ENIDC in supporting agribusiness growth ▶️ Taiwan ICDF’s contribution through banana seedlings ▶️ Farming challenges, including hailstorms and high electricity costs ▶️ Supplying local and export banana markets ▶️ Why young emaSwati must take farming seriously 🌐 Website: www.agribusinessmedia.com 📘 Facebook: Agribusiness Media 📸 Instagram: @agribusiness_media 💼 LinkedIn: Agribusiness Media #EswatiniAgriculture #LomvesheEnterprise #BananaFarming #ENIDC #Agribusiness #CommunityAgriculture