Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Ministry of Agriculture, led by Minister Mandla Tshawuka, has confirmed that it is in active negotiations with a Moroccan fertiliser company to open a local manufacturing branch in Eswatini.
The goal, Tshawuka said, is to ensure fertilisers remain affordable for Emaswati by producing them domestically, thus insulating local farmers from global price shocks. Tshawuka made this announcement during an event organised by Eswatini Sugar for cane growers at Phumulamcashi, St Phillip’s, under Siphofaneni Inkhundla in the Lubombo Region.
“In the spirit of Nkwe, we saw it imperative that we engage OCP Group from Morocco to come and establish a fertiliser manufacturing plant in Eswatini to try and stabilise the global price shocks, which we experience because we buy fertiliser from outside the country,” Tshawuka said.
The minister described the potential investment as a strategic step toward supporting food security, agricultural growth, and stability in input prices. According to his address, talks are already underway with the Moroccan partner, and both the Ministry and the investor are working to finalise Frameworks for setting up the plant on Eswatini soil.
If realised, the benefits of such an enterprise would be wide-ranging. Local production would reduce import dependency, lower transport and distribution costs, and create jobs – from factory workers to logistics and supply chain support. It would also allow tailoring of fertiliser blends suited to Eswatini’s soils and crop needs, rather than relying on generic imports. Over time, this could help farmers achieve higher yields at more predictable input costs.
Morocco’s fertiliser sector is led globally by OCP Group, which dominates phosphate mining and fertiliser production. (Morocco controls over 70% of the world’s phosphate reserves, according to Wikipedia) In recent years, OCP and its subsidiaries have been expanding operations and diversifying product lines, including new production lines for Triple Superphosphate (TSP). Tshawuka’s proposal appears aligned with this broader push by Moroccan firms to localise fertiliser value chains throughout Africa.
The minister emphasised that arrangements under consideration include joint investment, technology transfer, and regulatory support, to make sure the plant is viable and sustainable. He noted that one of the challenges facing Eswatini’s farmers is that fertiliser prices can “skyrocket” due to import costs, supply chain delays, and currency fluctuations — conditions that a domestic plant could mitigate.
While no timeline was yet confirmed, the Ministry expects further announcements as negotiations progress. Stakeholders in agriculture and rural development have welcomed the idea, viewing it as a potential turning point in Eswatini’s agricultural landscape.
If finalised, the establishment of a fertiliser production facility on Eswatini soil could mark a significant advance toward self-reliance in agricultural inputs — empowering farmers, stabilising costs, and stimulating industrial growth in the sector.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
