Mbabane – Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE) and the National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBoard) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen smallholder agriculture in the Kingdom. The signing took place on 16 September 2025 at Mountain View Hotel under the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and in partnership with the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office.
The agreement follows the launch of the Smallholder Agriculture Productivity Enhancement and Marketing Project (SAPEMP) in March 2025. The MoU provides a framework to implement SAPEMP’s goals, aiming to deliver tangible benefits for farmers, communities, and the national economy.
EWADE Chief Executive Officer Dr Samson Sithole said the partnership will empower smallholder farmers, improve value chains, and stimulate rural economies. “This MoU is a national development instrument aligned with the Eswatini Agriculture Sector Strategic Plan 2024–2028, the National Development Strategy, and Vision 2050,” Dr Sithole said. The project also supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty reduction, food security, gender equality, decent work, and climate action.
Through SAPEMP, EWADE will organize farmers into clusters, rehabilitate and construct collection centres, integrate farmers into digital platforms for real-time market information, and facilitate contracts with NAMBoard to secure markets for produce. The programme targets over 19,600 households across all four regions, reaching nearly 117,700 people.
Dr Sithole said the initiative prioritizes inclusivity, ensuring women, youth, and persons with disabilities have equal access to training, financial resources, and market opportunities. “SAPEMP will be a model of inclusive growth where no one is left behind,” he added.
The CEO called on government agencies, development partners, the private sector, and farmers to work together to move Eswatini’s agriculture from subsistence to competitive, market-led, and sustainable production.
Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, NAMBoard, IFAD, development partners, and media attended the signing, marking the start of coordinated action to transform rural farming communities.
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