Ezulwini, Eswatini – His Majesty King Mswati III has called for greater investment in seed production, irrigation and agricultural infrastructure to strengthen food security across Africa, as the Kingdom of Eswatini hosted the inaugural African Seed Summit on 6 October 2026.
The summit, held under the theme “Resilient Seed Systems for a Food-Secure Africa,” brought together African agriculture ministers, African Union representatives, government officials, development partners and other stakeholders to discuss ways of strengthening the continent’s seed sector.
The gathering reflected the African Union’s commitment, in line with a decision of its Executive Council, to deepen engagement and investment in seed production and development across Africa.
Addressing delegates at the opening ceremony at Ezulwini Palazzo, King Mswati III said Africa needed to take greater control of seed production, conservation and investment to build resilient agricultural systems and secure reliable food supplies for its growing population.
The summit followed the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2024, which focused on improving soil health and fertiliser use. The latest gathering shifted attention to seeds, a fundamental input in agricultural production.
The King noted that the global population, estimated at 8.3 billion, required increasingly reliable food supplies, making access to quality seed essential for improving agricultural productivity.
“No fertilizer, irrigation or machinery can make up for poor seed.”
He said climate change presented additional challenges for African agriculture, requiring countries to invest in resilient food systems and develop crop varieties capable of withstanding changing weather conditions.
King Mswati III also called for greater cooperation among African countries to improve water availability for agriculture, including through the construction of dams and the use of major rivers and lakes for irrigation.
He cited Lake Malawi, the Nile River and the Congo River as examples of water resources that could support agricultural production across the continent.
The King proposed that African countries assess their agricultural potential according to their landscapes, soil conditions and climate to determine which crops were best suited to their environments.
He said countries and regions should concentrate on crops they were best equipped to produce, while supporting other African states through trade and regional cooperation.
Such an approach, he said, could increase production, improve food storage and enable countries to maintain supplies for periods of shortage.
He also called for stronger transport networks to move agricultural products to markets, including through air, shipping and rail freight systems.
The proposals were linked to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which provides a framework for expanding trade among African countries.
King Mswati III urged African governments to work with multilateral organisations and financial institutions to secure funding for viable agricultural projects. He also called on the African Union to establish effective mechanisms for monitoring funded programmes and ensuring responsible debt management.
He said no African country could build a secure seed system independently because seeds, pests, diseases, genetic resources and agricultural markets crossed national borders.
The African Union, he said, remained essential to developing common policies, harmonising standards, mobilising resources and ensuring member states fulfilled their commitments.
He linked these efforts to the African Union’s Agenda 2063, known as “The Africa We Want”, which seeks to build an integrated, prosperous and peaceful continent, with food security serving as one of its foundations.
On Eswatini’s efforts to achieve seed sovereignty, the King outlined measures aimed at preserving indigenous plant resources and expanding national seed production.
These include upgrading the country’s gene bank to improve the conservation of indigenous plant genetic resources, alongside ongoing work to multiply seeds and germplasm.
Farmers have also received training in seed production, with some groups already involved in small scale seed production and other agricultural initiatives.
However, the King acknowledged that Eswatini still had considerable work to do to reach its desired level of seed production. He called for partnerships, investment and the exchange of expertise with other African countries and development partners.
He further urged African governments to translate continental agricultural policies into practical programmes capable of increasing production and strengthening seed value chains.
The African Seed and Biotechnology Programme was cited as a framework for improving seed production, alongside initiatives aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the food systems approach.
King Mswati III said stronger agricultural value chains could also help address unemployment, particularly among young people, by creating opportunities in seed production, processing and trade.
“A young person who produces, processes or trades in quality seed is not looking for work; that young person is creating it.”
The conservation of Africa’s indigenous plant and animal genetic resources was another priority raised during the address. The King said naturally adapted species needed to be protected from extinction because they provided important genetic material for developing climate resilient crop varieties.
He also called for the responsible use of environmentally friendly agricultural technologies and greater public education on their application to build trust among farmers and consumers.
Traditional knowledge systems, he said, continued to play an important role in sustaining rural livelihoods, particularly among vulnerable communities. He called for smallholder farmers and rural households to be included in agricultural development programmes.
Turning to investment, King Mswati III said a reliable supply of viable, high yielding and affordable seeds was essential for agricultural development across the continent.
He urged development partners, strategic investors and private sector companies to provide capital, technology and technical expertise to support the expansion of Africa’s seed industry.
African governments, meanwhile, were encouraged to establish stable policies, harmonise regulations and create predictable business environments to attract long term investment.
The King thanked the African Union Commission and its partners for organising the summit, expressing hope that discussions would lead to practical investment opportunities and stronger seed systems across Africa.
He pledged Eswatini’s continued support for the African Union and its member states in efforts to strengthen agricultural resilience, diversify economies and secure sustainable food production for future generations before officially declaring the inaugural African Seed Summit open.
Leave a comment