A five-day workshop is currently underway in Eswatini to strengthen compliance with GLOBAL G.A.P. standards in the country’s horticulture sector.
The training, which began today, is being held in collaboration with NAMBoard, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Eswatini Standards Authority (SWASA). The workshop targets Market Extension Officers and is aimed at building capacity to promote sustainable farming, improve food safety, and boost the competitiveness of Eswatini’s fruits and vegetables in global markets.
Funded by the European Union in Eswatini, the programme introduces participants to the Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) for Smart Fruits & Vegetables Version 6 under GLOBAL G.A.P.—an international standard for good agricultural practices.
Speaking during the opening, NAMBoard CEO Bhekizwe Maziya said Eswatini now has 21 horticulture extension officers: five in each of the country’s four regions and one additional officer. Thirteen of them are from the Ministry of Agriculture, while eight are from NAMBoard.
Maziya called for better coordination among stakeholders, noting that working in isolation limits farmers’ access to information. He encouraged officers to make joint use of platforms like the Global G.A.P. system, the EADF, the NAMBoard Horticulture Revolving Fund, the Horticulture Input Subsidy, and other schemes that can benefit local farmers.
The workshop also aims to prepare the officers to train farmers directly and conduct compliance assessments for those pursuing GLOBAL G.A.P. certification, which is a key requirement for accessing certain international markets.
Held at a time when Eswatini is seeking to scale up its horticulture exports, the training is expected to enhance the technical capacity needed to support farmers across the country.
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