Kick-off of the 5th YLIP Cohort

In January 2026, the 5th cohort of the Young Leaders Incubation Programme (YLIP), a joint initiative of the Andreas Hermes Akademie (AHA) and the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU), successfully kicked off. Participants are currently engaging in online sessions to further develop their leadership and management skills.

Module 2 will take place in April, with a stronger focus on practical application and in-depth training. We are looking forward to following the next steps of these promising young agricultural leaders! This article already introduces some of the programme participants.

Fezile Fundile Tembe, ESNAU, Eswatini

My name is Fezile Fundile Tembe, founder of Sethu’Sipho Farm in the Kingdom of Eswatini, Southern Africa. I have been working as a farmer for five years, focusing on horticulture, dairy, and grain production. I am also a youth advocate under ESNAU.

Our farm covers 12 hectares of land, of which 10 hectares are dedicated to grains, 1 hectare to horticulture, and 1 hectare to dairy production. We produce over 5 tonnes of grains annually, depending on climatic conditions, as our production takes place in open fields. We supply local markets as well as the Eswatini National Maize Corporation (NMC).

Our wish is to transform farming into an industry where young people can learn and change the world economically and technologically for the future generations, rather than seeing agriculture as something to be neglected.

Mxolisi Mthombeni, AFASA, South Africa

Mxolisi Mthombeni is a farmer based in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Born into a farming family, he is involved in grain production on around 600 ha, manages 282 head of Bonsmara cattle, and is involved in the cultivation of 15,000 apple trees in his family’s orchards, as well as essential oil production.

He also serves as a leader in the Youth Desk of the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (AFASA), contributing to the development and empowerment of young farmers in the sector.

Thobo Marcelino, BOFA, Botswana

At Green Haven, we specialize in 100% organic farming to ensure that our produce is naturally grown and free from harmful chemicals. This organic niche is important because it promotes healthier food for consumers while preserving the environment.

Through my work, I aim to demonstrate how science, sustainability and organic farming can contribute to a stronger and more resilient agricultural sector. We cultivate vegetables on a two-hectare area, while the citrus orchard occupies one hectare with approximately 400 trees.

In addition to my farming work, I serve on the Executive Commitee of the Botswana Farmers Association Youth Wing. I have been part of the association for two years, during which I have contributed to the organization of exhibitions and the planning masterclass events.

Titus Mwale, NDFA, Zambia

My name is Titus Mwale, a young farmer based in Nyimba District in Eastern Province, Zambia. I am both a practicing farmer and an agricultural development practitioner, currently serving as the District Coordinator for the Nyimba District Farmers Association.

On my farm, as well as through the farmer groups I work with, I practice what I teach by producing crops such as maize, soybeans, groundnuts, and vegetables while also promoting agroforestry, beekeeping, and sustainable farming practices. Each production cycle, we harvest approximately 350 tonnes of maize, 560 tonnes of soybeans and groundnuts, and about 90 tonnes of vegetables, which has significantly increased my income and strengthened the livelihoods of the farmers I work with.

My work focuses on building resilient farming systems through climate-smart agriculture, value addition, and farmer aggregation models that link smallholder farmers to structured markets. By combining practical farming with farmer organization leadership, I aim to demonstrate that agriculture can be a profitable and sustainable opportunity for young people in rural communities.