Africa-Press – Eswatini. Duncan Dlamini, a pig farmer and co founder of DJD Investments, captivated stakeholders with his business story during the Eswatini Agriculture Development Fund (EADF) Beneficiaries Training Workshop held on the 31st of July 2025 at Sibane Sami Hotel.
Speaking at the EADF Beneficiaries Training Workshop Dlamini shared how support from the EADF, through Eswatini Bank, helped grow DJD Investments, a pig farming business based in Matsetsa in the Lubombo region. The workshop brought together beneficiaries and officials to exchange insights on accessing and using the fund.
“I’m from DJD Investments, which we started in 2017 as a piggery business. Our aim was to grow into the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry,” he said, noting that they began operations with a small number of pigs and targeted the festive season market for better traction.
As the project progressed, Dlamini recounted how they faced challenges in accessing further capital and initially struggled to find a financial institution that took them seriously. “We were eventually warmly received by Eswatini Bank, who were impressed by our knowledge and visited our farm. That visit changed everything. It marked the beginning of our partnership with the bank,” he said, drawing a round of applause from fellow farmers.
He credited Eswatini Bank for enabling DJD Investments to grow, and the support of then extension officer, now Minister of Agriculture Nothando Ndwandwe, who introduced them to the Mpisi multiplication project. This, Dlamini said, was a major turning point that exposed them to artificial insemination and breeding gilts, expanding their knowledge and operations beyond pork production.
Dlamini expressed appreciation for the EADF loan facility, describing it as a well thought out fund that empowers first generation farmers from disadvantaged backgrounds. He praised the 9% interest rate and the fund’s support for production inputs, equipment, on farm infrastructure, and irrigation systems.
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