by Ncaba Ntshakala
The Private Sector has been urged to play a more active role in developing Eswatini’s agricultural value chain, emphasizing that local food production is crucial to achieving economic independence and strengthening the country’s financial stability.
Speaking at the 2nd Annual Business-to-Government Dialogue, Minister of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka expressed the need to shift from heavy reliance on food imports, particularly genetically modified (GMO) maize, to locally produced alternatives that promote food sovereignty.
“Agriculture is the pebble of this country and humankind. No one can survive without it or those people being fed,” Tshawuka said. He reinforced the sector’s fundamental role in national stability.
He pointed out that the country currently allows only two GMO products, which are yellow maize and cotton, neither of which are directly consumed by people.
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However, due to dependency on maize imports from South Africa, Eswatini’s population continues to consume GMO products, a situation the minister views as unsustainable.
“We need to scale up our local production so that we can feed ourselves, have food independence, and food sovereignty,” Tshawuka urged, adding that reducing import costs would directly benefit farmers and consumers.
He stressed that by investing in domestic production, private sector players could cut unnecessary expenses tied to importation and ensure that profits are retained within the local economy.
Tshawuka highlighted that Eswatini’s farmers have already seen improvements in maize pricing under his tenure, as the government has twice increased the price at which farmers sell their produce.
“The price for buying maize from the farm is going up twice already at the bottom, and it’s not going too much on the top.
The idea is to ensure that money is directed toward the people who do the basic work on the ground—the farmers,” he explained.
The minister also addressed pricing trends, arguing that unnecessary markups on imported maize negatively impact consumers and the overall economy.
“If we were purchasing locally, then we wouldn’t have to add all these costs. The money would then go directly to the farmer,” he said.
He encouraged private investors to explore vertical integration strategies, whereby large agribusinesses support smallholder farmers in production, thus ensuring consistent supply and reducing risks.
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For Eswatini’s agricultural economy to thrive, Tshawuka emphasized that policies must be designed to support local industries while also balancing business interests.
“We must promote local production. We shouldn’t be excited about imports,” he cautioned, highlighting the need for a national mindset shift.
