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MBABANE - NEDBANK Eswatini has doubled its sponsorship for the Smallholder Sugarcane Competition (SSG) Competition from E25 000 in 2020 to E50 000 this year.

In 2021, the competition was not held due to C29ID 1 . Nedbank Eswatini Managing Di rector )ikile Nkosi, said the bank collaborated with Eswatini 6ugar $ssociation (E6$) since the infancy stages of the competition and the sponsorship had grown over the years.

6he said since agriculture was one of Nedbank¶s key strategic focus areas, the bank believed it could still do more in coming years to contribute to this sector and help in uplifting smallholder sugarcane farmers. 6he further noted that the training provided to the farmers, coupled with the cash pri]es inMected to their businesses and the farming implements, have greatly assisted them grow their enterprises.

Businesses

³$s a bank, we are excited to see smallholder sugarcane farmers coming out at the other end still determined to scale up their businesses after being hit by the C29ID 1 pandemic. That display of resilience and determination is a maMor highlight for us,” said Nkosi. The managing director men tioned that $griculture was one of Nedbank¶s key strategic focus areas where the bank used its financial expertise to assist smallholder farmers manage their money differently and efficiently in order to increase the sector¶s contribution to the country¶s economic growth. ³Moreover, Nedbank is intent on assisting government to meet the set 6ustainable Development Goals (6DGs) one of which is to ensure food security for all,” added Nkosi. ³:e believe assisting smallholder farmers to growth and commercialise their enterprises will help the country meet that goal.” Nedbank has a variety of banking services tailored for small businesses in the agricultural sector from lend ing to investment products to making them grow their enterprises. 6ME bankers are ready to assist farmers with structuring lending and investment products to suit their enterprises.