- Minister of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka reports bean production increase from 1 390 to 3 500 metric tonnes.
- Maize harvest declines by 6% from 73 000 to 69 000 metric tonnes due to unfavourable weather conditions.
BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
LOBAMBA– Eswatini efforts to strengthen food security are showing positive results, with bean production increasing to 3 500 metric tonnes, meeting about 50 percent of the country’s local consumption needs.
Minister of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka said the increase followed various government interventions aimed at encouraging emaSwati to produce more food and reduce reliance on imports.
Tshawuka said bean production increased from 1 390 metric tonnes to 3 500 metric tonnes through programmes implemented by the Ministry, including farmer support initiatives and awareness campaigns at Tinkhundla centres.
The Minister was speaking on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, during the Ministry of Agriculture’s First Quarter Performance Report debate.
He said farmers were encouraged to plant beans after harvesting maize as part of efforts to maximise land use and increase food production.
Tshawuka said the Ministry’s visits to communities helped encourage farmers to diversify production, adding that government support through funding programmes also contributed to the improved bean harvest.
However, he reported that maize production declined from 73 000 metric tonnes in 2025 to 69 000 metric tonnes, representing a six percent drop.
The Minister attributed the decline mainly to unfavourable weather conditions, explaining that heavy rains during the first days of ploughing affected planting, while dry conditions later affected crop growth.
He assured Parliament that government continued to put measures in place to protect local farmers and production.
Tshawuka said laws under the National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBoard) were being enforced to regulate movement of agricultural products through border gates and protect local producers.
He said local farmers should not be expected to compete unfairly with producers from outside the country who may have more support and advantages.
“It would be unfair competition to say our farmers must compete with people outside the country who have many privileges,” said Tshawuka.
During the debate, Members of Parliament welcomed the Ministry’s efforts but raised concerns about food prices, expensive farming inputs and the decline in maize production.
Zombodze Emuva MP Ntando Mkhonta questioned why the price of beans remained high despite increased local production. He said affordable food was important for emaSwati to feed their families.
Mkhonta suggested that allowing more competition could help reduce prices and improve affordability.
Shiselweni I MP Shawnette Henwood commended the Minister for taking the Ministry’s programmes closer to communities, saying the approach was producing positive results. She, however, raised concerns about delays in delivering farming equipment to farmers.
Hon. Joseph Muntu Souza called for stronger measures to increase maize production, saying maize remained Eswatini’s staple food.
He questioned why the country continued importing maize years after independence despite having areas with access to water that could support commercial farming, including Simunye, Thabankhulu, Mhlume and Big Bend.
Souza said more practical action was needed to increase production instead of relying only on policies.
Hhukwini MP Alec Lushaba and Mtfongwaneni MP Nathi Hlophe raised concerns about the high cost of farming inputs, saying expensive production costs discouraged emaSwati from engaging in agriculture.
Manzini Region Women MP Thandeka Mavuso said drought could not be the only reason behind poor maize harvests, calling for more solutions to increase production of the country’s staple food.
Responding to concerns on commercial maize farming, Tshawuka said the National Maize Corporation was working on strategies to improve maize production.
He added that discussions were ongoing with companies that have access to irrigation water, including the Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation, to explore ways of increasing maize production.
#Agriculture #FoodSecurity #Eswatini #Farmers #MaizeProduction #BeanProduction
(Courtesy Pic)
