By Nomsa Dlamini (Intern)
MBABANE — The Minister for Agriculture, Honourable Mandla Tshawuka, officially launched five new Technical Cooperation Programmes (TCPs) funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) this morning at the Ministry of Agriculture boardroom in Mbabane.
The projects, collectively valued at $821 000 which is approximately E14.6 million, are part of the FAO’s 40 Series Technical Cooperation Programme and are set to be implemented from 2025 to 2027.
Speaking during the ceremony, Minister Tshawuka expressed appreciation for FAO’s long-standing support in driving the Kingdom of Eswatini’s agricultural development. “I am pleased with the progress and the support FAO has provided over the years in the implementation of these national policies driving innovation and the productive capacity of the youth and women and today,” said the Minister.
The TCPs, described by the Minister as “catalytic in nature,” are designed to attract further investment from both public and private sectors into the country’s agrifood systems. The aim is to enhance productivity, reduce rural and urban poverty, improve livelihoods, and ultimately reduce Eswatini’s food import bill.
Among the projects announced is a $175 000 initiative targeting tick and tick-borne disease control in livestock, which supports SDG 2: Zero Hunger. Another major project, worth $310 000, will accelerate the transformation of Eswatini’s food systems by strengthening agribusiness partnerships, supporting the Eswatini Agriculture Development Fund (EADF), and enhancing irrigation, value chains, and data systems.
A $170 000 project will upgrade soil classification and agroecological zone mapping to support evidence-based land use planning, while a $46 000 programme will build resilience among smallholder farmers by training government officers to support risk mitigation strategies. The fifth project, allocated $120 000, will improve climate change coordination and help develop a national roadmap aligned with the country’s climate goals.
Minister Tshawuka highlighted that these initiatives support the broader National Agriculture Investment Plan (ENAIP 2.0) and various strategic frameworks, including the Commodity Sector Development Plans and the Irrigation Master Plan. He praised FAO for being a “key and reliable member of the UN system” and commended the organization for its role in guiding Eswatini’s agrifood transformation efforts through initiatives such as the Country Programming Framework 2022–2025 and the Hand-in-Hand (HIH) initiative.
Looking ahead, the Minister noted that FAO will celebrate its 80th anniversary on World Food Day, 16 October 2025, under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future.” He called on all stakeholders to continue working collaboratively to achieve a food-secure Eswatini.
“Let us continue to work together effectively, efficiently, and coherently, supporting agrifood systems transformation to achieve our collective mission of a food secure Eswatini. May we strive to do more with less, and doing it better, leaving no one behind,” concluded Minister Tshawuka.
The event was attended by senior government officials, FAO representatives, including Assistant FAO Representative Howard Mbuyisa, members of the media, and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector.
