By Mbono Mdluli
MBABANE – Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, has declared agriculture as the ultimate solution to ending poverty and unemployment in the country, urging all stakeholders to capitalize on the current momentum in the sector.
Speaking at the official launch of the Smallholder Agricultural Productivity Enhancement and Marketing Project (SAPEMP), Rijkenberg passionately emphasized the transformative power of agriculture, stating that the country stands at the centre of a breakthrough moment.
“Agriculture is the solution for unemployment and our poverty in Eswatini. What we are doing here today is exactly what our country needs to transform,” he said.
The Finance Minister, who humbly described himself as a “Minister of Finance with an agriculture heart,” encouraged the Ministry of Agriculture to seize this rare alignment of resources, support, and vision.
“Take full advantage while we are all here and while the stars are aligned,” he urged.
He acknowledged the economic hurdles in farming, pointing out that although Eswatini is rich in land and human potential, many fields remain idle—not due to lack of knowledge, but because farming has not been economically rewarding for many.
“Farmers are not making money. The land is sitting idle not because people can’t farm, but because the economics haven’t made sense,” he noted.
However, he expressed confidence in the SAPEMP initiative and praised the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE) for its impactful model.
Rijkenberg, who served on the EWADE board for many years, hailed their success in grouping smallholder farmers into productive companies—a model that has now proven successful where many others in Africa have struggled.
“EWADE has cracked the code. What they are doing is phenomenal. We are seeing people move from abject poverty into middle-class stability—and that’s the power of strategic agriculture,” said Rijkenberg.
He also acknowledged the importance of inclusivity in development, highlighting the need for equitable growth so that all regions of Eswatini benefit.
The SAPEMP programme is poised to be a cornerstone in unlocking Eswatini’s agricultural potential and ensuring prosperity for smallholder farmers across the nation.
With bold leadership and a collaborative approach, Rijkenberg’s vision sets a hopeful tone for the future: a future where agriculture doesn’t just feed the nation—but lifts it.
