The Honourable Deputy Prime Minister of Eswatini, Thulisile Dladla, paid a visit to Paradise Farm in the Shiselweni region, one of the flagship project sites under the Hamba-Ubuye initiative, where she commended EWADE’s tangible contributions to sustainable agriculture and national food security.

The farm, supported by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) with farming inputs and implemented by the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE), has cultivated 50 hectares of dry beans, forming part of the 102 hectares established across the country under this national recovery programme. The initiative aims to improve household food production while restoring dignity and economic activity in rural communities.

During her address, the Honourable DPM expressed her admiration for the progress witnessed at the site, stating:

“Siyambonga EWADE lophume umkhono nesiphanga kwekutsi kuphele indlala emaSwatini.”
(“We are grateful to EWADE for rolling up their sleeves to fight hunger in Eswatini.”)

She went on to commend EWADE’s CEO, Dr. Samson Sithole, for leading what she described as a passionate and results-driven team. “Without strong leadership, there are no great results,” she remarked, crediting the organisational culture and strategic clarity that have enabled EWADE to fulfil its mandate effectively.

Reflecting on her recent official visit to Brazil, the DPM shared lessons drawn from household-level agricultural practices observed there, including backyard vegetable gardens, integrated fishponds, and community-driven urban farming initiatives such as planting along sidewalks and public green spaces. These simple yet effective practices showed how agriculture can be integrated into everyday life.

“When we were in Brazil, we saw how agriculture wasn’t just something done on large farms, it was a way of life, even in cities. With institutions like EWADE responding to His Majesty’s call through the ‘Nkwe’ framework, we are confident the same is possible in Eswatini,” she added.

The DPM also expressed her desire to see such initiatives introduced in schools. “Many of our schools have land that is underutilised. That land can be turned into productive learning spaces, teaching our children agriculture from a young age while also producing food that can support school feeding programmes,” she said.

The visit not only spotlighted the strategic importance of Paradise Farm but also reaffirmed EWADE’s role as a non-profit public enterprise at the heart of Eswatini’s Water and Agricultural development efforts. Through its people centred approach and innovative project delivery, EWADE continues to drive sustainable agricultural growth, empower communities, and contribute to the Kingdom’s long-term food sovereignty.