Africa-Press – Eswatini. Eswatini has leveraged its World Food Day 2025 commemoration to announce a major national commitment to commercial agriculture, backed by E61 million in new and increased funding.
The announcement was made by Minister of Agriculture, Mandla Tshawuka, at Mkhiweni Inkhundla on Thursday, the 30th of October 2025, outlining a strategy to achieve food sovereignty through increased local production and a national shift toward high value agro processing, aimed at strengthening the country’s agricultural economy and ensuring sustainable food security.
The commemoration, held under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” affirmed that the government is increasing investment to reduce reliance on food imports and build wealth and job opportunities for citizens.
E61 Million Drives Commercial Scale-Up
The Minister detailed specific financial allocations aimed at accelerating the move from subsistence to commercial farming:
A total of E40 million has been allocated for a new commercial farming initiative.
The Hamba Ubuye program will receive an additional E14 million in funding.
The subsidy for staples has also been strengthened, with the maize and beans subsidy increased by approximately E7 million this year.
This investment directly supports the national goal that “every Liswati sleeps having eaten, and eats food that is nutritious,” fueled by locally produced goods.
Mphakeni Dam to Anchor Value Addition
Beyond primary production, the Ministry is actively pursuing value addition to local produce. The government is lining up potential investors to double capacity in agro-processing to add value and increase the shelf life of local harvests.
Crucially, the flagship Mphakeni dam is designed to embrace this integrated approach, with plans extending beyond irrigation to include an industrial park, energy plant, and eco-city nearby. This project aims to build a comprehensive economic ecosystem around water and agriculture.
The Minister acknowledged that this journey is collaborative, aligning with the spirit of the theme and the African idiom, “if you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go together.” He specifically recognized partners like the FAO and World Food Programme for joining Eswatini in this effort to end hunger and poverty.
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