BY THEMBA ZWANE
EZULWINI — Government says it needs about E10.7 million to meet Eswatini’s obligations in hosting the African Union (AU) High-Level Seed Conference scheduled for October 5 to 7 at the Palazzo, Ezulwini.
Minister of Agriculture, Mandla Tshawuka, revealed the figure during a fundraising and pledging session held at Happy Valley Hotel, where government called on the private sector, farmers, development partners, non-governmental organisations and individuals to support the hosting of the continental gathering.
Tshawuka said the conference was expected to attract ministers of agriculture from across Africa, ministers of foreign affairs, international organisations and other high-level delegations.
He said 23 agriculture ministers had already confirmed their attendance, while interest in the conference continued to grow following engagements with potential delegates.
The minister said he had also encountered representatives in Zimbabwe who expressed interest in attending the Eswatini conference, while a German ambassador indicated that a delegation from Germany would travel to the Kingdom for the event.
“This is a big job and it is going to cost government quite a lot of money,” Tshawuka said.
He explained that the E10.7 million estimate was largely linked to the host country’s responsibility to cater for certain ministers and heads of delegations attending the conference.
CALL FOR NATIONWIDE SUPPORT
With the financial requirement now put at E10.7 million, government has launched a nationwide mobilisation campaign to raise support for the summit.
Tshawuka said the fundraising drive was not limited to major corporations, stressing that every contribution could make a difference.
He said government had tasked one of its parastatals with opening a special account through which contributions towards the conference could be made.
The minister even encouraged individuals with limited financial resources to participate in whatever way they could.
“Even if you have a chicken you can donate it,” he said, emphasising the intended whole-of-nation approach to hosting the conference.
Among the organisations that have already pledged support are Khuba Traders, which committed E5 000, and Nisela Farms, which pledged E8 000 in cash and a further E3 000 worth of products.
The Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) pledged to cater for all internet requirements for the summit, valued at about E331 000 according to government estimates.
Eswatini Agricultural Supplies pledged E10 000 in cash, while another contributor pledged LED screens for the event.
‘EVERYTHING IN AGRICULTURE STARTS WITH SEEDS’
Tshawuka said the importance of the conference extended beyond the three-day gathering, describing seeds as the foundation of agricultural production.
“Everything in agriculture starts with seeds,” he said.
He said the summit would provide an opportunity for African countries and stakeholders to discuss the foundations of agricultural production, including access to appropriate seed varieties and the preservation of genetic resources.
The minister said the discussions were particularly important as countries prepared for changing weather conditions.
He noted that there had already been indications of a possible El Niño event and said access to suitable seeds would be critical if farmers were to withstand potentially dry conditions.
Tshawuka also stressed the importance of ensuring that valuable seed varieties and genes developed or preserved by farmers over generations were not lost.
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
Beyond agriculture, the minister said Eswatini stood to benefit economically from the influx of visitors expected during the conference.
He said the arrival of ministers, officials and delegates from across Africa and beyond could provide opportunities for the tourism and hospitality sectors.
“We expect the flights to be probably overbooked. We expect hotels to be full,” he said.
Tshawuka added that small-scale producers could also benefit from the increased demand generated by the visitors.
He said the conference would simultaneously provide Eswatini with an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to host major international events and increase the country’s visibility on the continent and globally.
MORE FUNDRAISING EVENTS PLANNED
The Happy Valley gathering was described as the first of a series of engagements aimed at mobilising financial and other forms of support for the summit.
Tshawuka said another pledging session had been scheduled for September 28, when government would assess progress in securing the required support.
He said the fundraising meetings would also provide stakeholders with an opportunity to submit issues they wanted addressed during the conference.
According to Tshawuka, this would ensure that Eswatini’s participation was anchored in issues affecting ordinary people, particularly farmers and the broader agricultural economy.
He said the country should not simply participate in discussions about agriculture at a continental level, but should ensure that the outcomes addressed issues affecting farmers at grassroots level.
The minister said the ultimate measure of the conference would be its impact on farmers and agricultural development.
He therefore called for a whole-of-the-nation approach, urging government, business, farmers, development partners and individuals to rally behind the summit.
The October 5–7 gathering is expected to place Eswatini at the centre of continental discussions on seeds, agricultural production and the future resilience of African agriculture.
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(Courtesy Pic)
