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MNWAP – Production of indigenous chickens for household food security
November 27, 2024
Overview
The Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE) Commercial Maize Project is a strategic initiative to enhance maize production in Eswatini to achieve food sovereignty, improve smallholder farmer livelihoods, and reduce dependency on maize imports. The project focuses on integrating smallholder farmers into commercial maize production through structured support systems, including access to improved inputs, technical assistance, and guaranteed market access. The project seeks to establish a sustainable and scalable maize production model that contributes to national economic growth while ensuring food self-sufficiency.
Objectives
- Enhance National Food Security: Increase local maize production to meet the country’s demand and reduce reliance on imports.
- Boost Smallholder Farmer Productivity: Provide farmers with improved seed varieties, fertilizers, mechanization services, and extension support to enhance yields.
- Strengthen Market Linkages: Facilitate structured market access for smallholder farmers through agreements with millers, agro-processors, and institutional buyers.
- Increase Rural Employment and Incomes: Create direct and indirect job opportunities along the maize value chain, from production to processing and distribution.
- Improve Agricultural Resilience: Reduce vulnerabilities related to political unrest and pandemics that may disrupt the movement of goods and affect food availability.
Project Components
The project is implemented along three main components:
- Component 1: Production through aggregation of farmers on Eswatini Nation Land (ENL).
- Component 2: Maize production on commercial farms.
- Component 3: Project management and coordination.
Project Goal
To facilitate commercial maize production in Eswatini by clustering farmers under Eswatini Nation Land and commercial farms, contributing to food security and economic resilience.
Project Outcomes
- Contribute to maize import substitution and national food security.
- Strengthen rural economies through increased agricultural productivity and employment.
- Support sustainable and resilient maize production systems.
Specific Project Outputs
- Identification and aggregation of farmers on Eswatini Nation Land (ENL).
- Inputs and services support to ENL farmers through a revolving fund (“Hamba Ubuye”).
- Maize production on Eswatini Nation Land.
- Maize production on commercial farms.
Project Factsheet
- Project value: SZL 44,812,500.00
- Yield target: 30,000 metric tons annually
- Area target: 6,800 ha under Eswatini Nation Land and commercial farms
Target Beneficiaries
- Smallholder Farmers: Integrated into commercial agriculture through training, input supply, and guaranteed market access.
- Agro-Processors and Millers: Strengthened local maize production will ensure a steady supply of raw materials for Eswatini’s milling and processing industries.
- Rural Communities: Increased employment opportunities in maize production, transportation, storage, and processing will uplift rural livelihoods.
- Government and Policymakers: The project aligns with national food security strategies, contributing to the realization of Eswatini’s agricultural transformation goals.
Target Areas & Farmer Eligibility Criteria
- The project will reach farmers in all four regions of Eswatini under ENL who cultivate a minimum of 5 hectares.
- Farmers must be contracted to a formal market.
- A minimum of three years of experience in commercial maize production is required.
- Priority is given to farmers located in high-rainfall areas.
- Farmers in low rainfall areas must have an irrigation system installed.
