Across the sun-scorched southern plains of Eswatini, a quiet revolution is taking root. Where the wind once stirred nothing but dust, green fields now rise, a symbol of hope, resilience, and transformation.

As the CEO of the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE), I am proud to say this is not a dream; it is a reality we are cultivating, one field, one farmer, one harvest at a time.

For far too long, communities in places like Ndzevane, Gamula, Gangakhulu, Ntubane, and Mndobandoba were trapped in a cycle of subsistence farming, drought, and food aid. The land was fertile, yes, but without water infrastructure and modern agricultural support, even the most determined efforts yielded little. Between 2015 and 2020, prolonged droughts compounded the hardship, eroding food security and pushing the nation to depend heavily on imported maize.

At EWADE, we understood that sustainable agriculture begins with water. That is why, under the Lower Usuthu Smallholder Irrigation Project Phase II (LUSIP II), we made it our mission to bring water to the people, and with it, a new model of commercial agriculture. With irrigation drawn from the Lubovane Dam, we introduced crop diversification, moving beyond sugarcane to banana and field crops like maize and beans, crops that build household food security and unlock real income.

In 2022/23, commercial maize farming under LUSIP II took its first steps in Ndzevane, alternating with beans. From a modest 10 hectares, which produced just over 42 metric tons, the programme grew significantly. In 2023/24, we reached 58.3 hectares and 233.6 metric tons. This season, 2024/25, we’ve expanded to 97.4 hectares, with projections exceeding 389 metric tons. That means in just three seasons, LUSIP II alone will deliver over 622 metric tons of maize, not for subsistence, but for the national market.

Behind this progress are real people. Organized farmer companies—Vulematfuba, Ngcongco, Mnanjane, Sikhutsele, Mayayeni, Sojobe, Malabane, Bhatimane, Ntokozweni, and Ntubane- have emerged as commercial players, negotiating contracts with the National Maize Corporation (NMC). With year-round irrigation, on-the-ground support from our Agronomists, and technical training from our Business Development Officers, these farmers are thriving.

As Gogo Thwala from Ndzevane put it: “Before EWADE came in, we were planting for our stomachs. Now, we are planting for the market.” Her cooperative’s success recently enabled them to build a small storage facility and acquire a shared tractor—milestones that once seemed unattainable.

This momentum under LUSIP II feeds directly into our national maize production flagship, the Commercial Maize Project – Hamba Ubuye. Launched in 2021/22 with just 17 male farmers cultivating 172 hectares and producing 595.4 tons, it has grown exponentially. By 2022/23, we had 73 farmers (including 16 women and two youth) producing over 1,361 tons. In 2023/24, the number swelled to 106 farmers, including 24 women and seven youth, who delivered over 2,162 tons on 856 hectares.

Today, in 2024/25, the project boasts 208 farmers (160 men, 48 women, and 18 youth) working 1,548 hectares across 30 Tinkhundla and 73 chiefdoms, organized into 18 production zones. It’s a coordinated, scalable, and commercially viable maize movement that’s transforming Eswatini’s rural economy.

Our strategic alliance with the NMC ensures a guaranteed market for all harvested maize. This has not only reduced post-harvest losses but also boosted farmer incomes and stimulated entire local economies. Input suppliers, logistics providers, and contractors are now part of a growing agricultural value chain that is delivering on food security while creating jobs.

But perhaps the most powerful example of transformation lies in the resettled communities displaced by the ongoing construction of the E2.6 billion Mpakeni Dam. At EWADE, we didn’t just relocate families to new land, we equipped them with the tools to thrive as commercial farmers. In Thezane, Makhava, Lulakeni, and KaMngayi, over 84 households have transitioned from subsistence to commercial farming.

We invested over E6.4 million into land preparation and provided more than E0.5 million worth of farm inputs, including fertilizers, certified seed, pesticides, and mechanized tractor services. They planted 60.75 hectares of maize, and the results were exceptional. These families are no longer victims of displacement; they are agents of prosperity. A high-level delegation from NMC, led by CEO Mavela Vilane, visited to witness first-hand the success of this transformation, and they promised to purchase the maize from the farmers.

This is more than just farming. It is a direct contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—from eradicating poverty and hunger (Goals 1 & 2), to empowering women and youth (Goals 5 & 8), building climate resilience (Goal 13), and fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships (Goal 17).

Let me be clear: Eswatini has experienced an observable increase in maize imports from E553 238 400 to 677,592,000 between 2019 and 2020, indicating an increment of 26 per cent in the value of maize imported, according to Knoema 2021. But that dependency is steadily shrinking. Thanks to irrigation infrastructure, technical training, and strategic marketing, our communities are shifting from aid recipients to net suppliers. They are not only feeding their families, but they are also feeding the nation.

Our success with maize has inspired a new push: bean production. In 2024, our farmer companies under LUSIP II planted 65.7 hectares of beans, yielding 43 metric tons. Encouraged by the outcome, farmers are now expanding acreage with hopes of doubling last year’s yield. At a national level, EWADE, through our Commercial Maize Project wing, launched a 50-hectare bean production project at Paradise Farm, Ezikhotheni (Shiselweni 1 Inkhundla), in partnership with the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and NMC.

This partnership, formalized through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marks a united front of three government institutions driving Eswatini towards food sovereignty. The project also aligns with the Ministry of Agriculture’s 2024–2028 Strategic Plan and supports the national goal of reaching 10,000 hectares under beans, strengthening food security, increasing income, and enhancing climate resilience.

The agricultural revival we’re witnessing is not just about production figures. It is about dignity restored. Purpose renewed. Futures rebuilt. Across Eswatini, farming households are rising—not just as food producers, but as custodians of national progress. At EWADE, we have sown more than maize. We have planted hope. From dust to deliverance, we are watching our people rise, with water as the enabler, agriculture as the engine, and shared prosperity as the destination.