BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE – The Ministry of Agriculture is intensifying efforts to boost Eswatini’s honey production by equipping beekeepers with essential skills through targeted capacity-building in the apiculture sector, as the country works to meet a national demand of about 65 tonnes annually.
At present, Eswatini produces approximately 30 tonnes of honey per year, highlighting significant growth potential as demand continues to rise across households, retailers and value-added industries.
The centre of this initiative is a free beekeeping training session scheduled for 16 April 2026 at Mbabane Library, aimed at empowering farmers, youth and other stakeholders with practical skills to improve productivity, enhance quality and expand commercial opportunities in honey production.
Key industry players, including Lujilo Honey, the Eswatini Agriculture Development Fund, Maize Investment, and other partners committed to strengthening rural livelihoods and promoting agricultural diversification, are expected to participate in the training.
The Ministry says the programme forms part of a broader strategy to unlock the full potential of the honey value chain, as the sector continues to demonstrate strong prospects for rural income generation and enterprise development.
According to industry data, Eswatini has more than 400 rural beekeepers, with rising demand for pure, locally produced honey, traditionally known as luju. However, experts estimate that about 72% of small-scale beekeepers lack advanced technical knowledge, limiting productivity and commercial scalability.
In response, the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with partners, has rolled out a series of training workshops between 2024 and 2025 focusing on hive management, disease control, honeybee biology and modern commercial apiculture practices.
These initiatives include a five-day intensive training programme held in November 2025 in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which equipped extension officers from across the country to better support rural farmers. Other interventions include regional symposiums in Manzini, antimicrobial resistance workshops, and youth-focused apiculture programmes aimed at aligning production with global standards.
The Ministry says these interventions are part of a broader strategy to strengthen rural livelihoods and transform beekeeping into a commercially viable agricultural sub-sector.
Beyond government-led efforts, community-based programmes supported by organisations such as World Vision Eswatini and partners linked to the Luju Festival continue to train households in beekeeping as a means of income diversification.
Industry observers say expanding local production could significantly reduce import dependence while unlocking rural economic opportunities, particularly for youth and smallholder farmers.
As demand for natural and traditional products continues to grow, stakeholders believe strengthening technical capacity will be key to positioning Eswatini as a competitive honey producer in the region.
#Eswatini #Agriculture #HoneyProduction #Beekeeping #MinistryOfAgriculture #RuralDevelopment #Apiculture #FoodSecurity #SkillsDevelopment #Economy
