Sustainable Land and Water Management in Mntjuzalala Catchment
September 23, 2024
Smallholder Market-Led Project (SMLP)
September 23, 2024
HVCHP Overview
The High Value Crop and Horticulture Project (HVCHP) seeks to increase the contribution of the agricultural sector to poverty reduction in Eswatini by creating pro-poor growth, securing livelihoods of small holder farmers by providing them with marketing opportunities and providing locally produced diversified food on the market.
The purpose of the project is to support commercial high impact commodity chains with a focus on horticulture, thereby substituting predominant imports, through strengthening of market finding, production planning, production, packing and collection of products
The key objectives of the project are:
- Strengthening further logistical capacities (transport and storage systems), and market finding via the establishment of Market Information Systems as well as the overall regulation of the commodity chains in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA),
- Around the LUSIP area, completion of land development and establishment of Farmer Companies on the land earmarked for non-sugar crop.
- Developing ‘packhouse hubs’ in several areas characterised by water seasonality with a potential to develop the localised production around existing smaller water harvesting structures.
The project operations are nationwide. For objective 2 of the project operations are centred around the LUSIP I area in the Lubombo region. For objective 3, the project will concentrate largely on areas identified as pack-house hubs. These are located at Lavumisa, Msahweni, Nhlangano and Mphumakudze.
Objectives
The overall objective is to contribute to the reduction of poverty by creating pro-poor growth, securing livelihoods of small holder farmers and providing locally produced diversified food on the market.
This will be achieved through the establishment of a market information system, installation of cold stores at three existing national markets (Mbabane, Manzini and Mahlanya), mobilization of target communities to form chiefdom development plans (CDPs) organized and formal farming companies (FCs), preparation of designs for the construction of zone hub centres.
Project Area
Project operations are nationwide. The MoA will provide oversight from the MoA headquarters in Mbabane and extension services from the regions as appropriate. NAMBOARD’s head office is currently in Manzini and any TA assigned will work from the head office and at the project locations as appropriate
For components 2 the project operations and activities will take place in the LUSIP I area. The project will be managed from the Siphofaneni offices of ESWADE in Lubombo Region. The ESWADE project team and TA will be based at and operate from those offices.
For component 3, the project will concentrate largely on areas identified as pack-house hubs. Potential locations are in the Lavumisa area, the around Nhlangano, and the Msahweni area in the North.
Expected Results
- Result 1: National, regional and international markets identified and being supplied with high quality produce
- Result 2: Land developed and farmer companies strengthened to profitably produce a range of high value commodities in the LUSIP I area.
- Result 3: Pack-house hub-based zones developed
Key Achievements / Highlights
- 3 market cold stores constructed (Mahlanya, Manzini & Mbabane)
- 3 pack-houses constructed (Lavumisa, Nhlangano & Msahweni)
- 785 ha developed for horticultural crops
