By Lwazi Dlamini
The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini has committed a budget of E70 million annually to help restore adequate levels of capacity for food security.
The budget of E70 million has been allocated for the next three years, totalling E210 million.
This was revealed by the Minister of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka when responding to questions during the Editor’s Forum breakfast meeting with the Prime Minister at Mountain Inn on Thursday.
ALSO READ: Eswatini Government to improve reach and depth of financial services
Tshawuka stated that he did visit some of the RDAs and observed the level of dilapidation of the infrastructure therein.
“This includes accommodation for the extension staff and the offices. I have pictures for example of Mkhiweni and Mahlangatsha RDAs and yes they are a sorry sight.
The Ministry has engaged a government parastatal Microproject to carry out an assessment of the extent of the dilapidation and costing of the rehabilitation.
This has been done and a budget of E70 million annually has been allocated for the next three years, totalling E210 million has been secured for this purpose,” the Minister said.
Tshawuka also stated that as a Ministry they have just completed a strategic roadmap that rests on three pillars: Service Delivery and Decentralisation, Food Sovereignty and Wealth Creation.
“Please note that we are talking about food sovereignty as opposed to food security.
Food sovereignty means we must grow the food in-country, not rely on imports. Under service delivery, we have a programme we call “Taking the Ministry to the people”.
ALSO READ: ESCCOM, FSRA MoU to regulate digital non-banking financial services
We have already been to Kaphunga, Hhukwini and just yesterday we were at Mkhiweni. When we get to these Inkhundla, we have all departments of the ministry represented and we engage with the communities with respect on how we can work together to attain food sovereignty,”
The Minister added: “We also promote programmes that the Ministry is currently driving.
We have about 10 practical programmes that support the strategy, including Mphakeni, farming with Communities, livestock value chain development etc.
One of the changes in attitude is that we don’t wait for people to come to Mbabane for assistance, instead, we go to the communities to give service.
We are no longer a ministry that only creates an enabling environment but is otherwise passive. Now we are actively going to farm with the people,”
