Africa-Press – Eswatini. Government has intensified efforts to take agricultural services closer to communities as part of a broader drive to strengthen food security and reduce the country’s dependence on food imports.
This was said by Minister of Agriculture, Mandla Tshawuka, during the ongoing Taking Government to the People programme held at Mhlambanyatsi.
Tshawuka said the ministry was committed to working closely with farmers and ensuring they had access to the support and resources needed to increase production.
“The Ministry of Agriculture is committed to working with farmers and supporting them so that emaSwati can reach a stage where the country produces enough food,” he said.
He said the ministry’s goal was to help Eswatini attain food sovereignty by increasing local production of staple crops and dairy products.
Tshawuka said through the Taking Government to the People programme, the ministry was bringing extension services, technical support and practical farming assistance closer to communities.
The minister said the ministry had so far visited 16 tinkhundla under the ongoing programme, with more visits still planned.
He said the programme was designed to ensure no farmer was left behind, particularly at a time when the country needed to boost production.
Research shows that Eswatini requires about 140 000 metric tonnes of maize annually to meet national demand. However, current production is estimated at around 75 000 metric tonnes, leaving a shortfall of about 65 000 metric tonnes that has to be covered through imports.
The country also needs between 7 000 and 8 000 metric tonnes of dry beans each year, but local production remains just above 1 000 metric tonnes, leaving an import gap of more than 6 000 tonnes.
In the dairy sector, national demand stands at about 84 million litres of milk and milk products annually, while current local production is estimated at around 20 million litres. This leaves a deficit of more than 60 million litres.
These figures underline the scale of the challenge facing the country and the importance of increasing local production to strengthen food security.
Tshawuka urged farmers to make full use of government support programmes and remain committed despite challenges such as erratic weather patterns and rising production costs.
He said stronger collaboration between government and farmers was critical if the country was to achieve food self-sufficiency and build a resilient agricultural sector capable of feeding the nation.
Working together, government and farmers can close production gaps, reduce costly imports and build a stronger, more resilient food system. With support now reaching communities directly, the path to food self-sufficiency depends on farmers taking up the tools, knowledge and opportunities being placed within their reach.
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