Agriculture

MBABANE – The 2025/26 farming season is off to a promising start.

This comes as government has announced full readiness to support farmers through input subsidies, mechanisation programmes and improved access to agricultural services across all regions.

Minister for Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka shared these developments during a press briefing held yesterday, confirming that government, through the National Maize Corporation (NMC), has activated its nationwide support network ahead of the ploughing season.

“Government is fully prepared to assist farmers through the NMC, extension officers and other avenues.

“The farming season has begun, and all systems are in place to ensure that no farmer is left behind,” the minister said.

The 2025/26 Farming Input and Tractor Hire Subsidy Programme has been allocated E59.2 million, aimed at supporting around 8 130 vulnerable farmers with subsidised maize, beans and sorghum inputs.

Under the scheme, farmers can obtain crop inputs through accredited agro-dealers approved by NMC, with subsidies designed to make farming more accessible and affordable for smallholder producers.

NMC has already published the full list of accredited agro-dealers, ensuring transparency and ease of access for farmers. Minister Tshawuka announced that the network of agro-dealers has been expanded across all four regions to make it easier for farmers to access inputs closer to their homesteads.

Farmers will have no cap on the number of items they can procure, provided they stay within their allocated subsidy budgets. However, each farmer is required to select one crop input – maize, beans or sorghum – depending on their farming needs and land suitability.

The minister stressed that the subsidy programme remains targeted at genuinely deserving farmers who meet the eligibility criteria set out earlier in the year.

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Over 550ha secured for maize production

MBABANE - Government, through NMC, has secured over 550 hectares of land leased from emaSwati across various regions to boost maize production.

This forms part of government’s broader strategy to increase local maize output and reduce reliance on imports, ensuring that Eswatini can sustainably meet domestic demand.

“The land leased from emaSwati will be used to intensify government’s maize production efforts. This is a key part of our plan to achieve food sovereignty and build resilience in our national grain reserves,” NMC CEO Mavela Vilane said.

He noted that the maize produced from these leased fields would supplement supplies to the national strategic grain reserve, enhancing food security and stabilising prices in times of shortage.

Farmers can began collecting their subsidised inputs from approved suppliers starting October 2, 2025.

The NMC has maintained the tractor hire rate at E400 per hour, which remains unchanged from the previous season despite rising fuel and maintenance costs.

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Eswatini battles fresh FMD incursion at Mambane

MBABANE – Eswatini is battling a new foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Mambane after livestock from South Africa reignited infections, prompting swift government response and regional assistance.

The outbreak comes while the Ministry of Agriculture was just about celebrating significant progress in containing the FMD outbreak in the Shiselweni Region.

Minister for Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka confirmed the development during a press briefing held at the ministry yesterday, where he provided an update on the ongoing fight against the highly contagious animal disease.

“While we were celebrating our success in bringing the situation under control in the Shiselweni Region, an incursion was reported at Mambane. The outbreak was sparked by livestock that entered Eswatini from South Africa,” the minister revealed.

According to Tshawuka, the Mambane incursion marks a new phase in Eswatini’s FMD containment efforts. The area, which borders South Africa’s Mpumalanga Province, has become the new focus of government’s veterinary response teams.

He stressed that authorities are working tirelessly to prevent the disease from spreading further into the Shiselweni Region and beyond, particularly through intensified vaccination and animal movement control.

“We are now fighting the Mambane incursion head-on. The situation is under close monitoring and containment measures have been tightened,” Tshawuka assured.

*Full article available in our publication.

Minister for Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka and Principal Secretary Sydney Simelane during the press briefing yesterday. (Pic: Nhlanganiso Mkhonta)