BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
LOBAMBA – The rising cost of farming inputs has raised concern among Members of Parliament, who warned that expensive seeds, fertilisers and other production materials could discourage emaSwati from farming and slow down efforts to achieve food security.
The issue was raised during the Ministry of Agriculture’s First Quarter Performance Report debate on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, where MPs questioned what measures were being taken to make farming more affordable.
Hhukwini Member of Parliament Alec Lushaba called on the Ministry to investigate the causes of expensive farming inputs, saying there were reports that some inputs could be sourced at much cheaper prices.
Lushaba questioned why farmers continued to face high costs when agriculture remained important in creating employment opportunities and improving local food production.
Mtfongwaneni MP Nathi Hlophe also raised concerns about the cost of farming inputs, saying many emaSwati were discouraged from farming when they considered the expenses involved.
He said agriculture had the potential to create more jobs and help the country achieve food sovereignty, but high production costs remained a challenge for farmers.
The MPs said addressing input costs would encourage more people to participate in agriculture and strengthen local production.
Manzini Region Women MP Thandeka Mavuso also raised concerns affecting service delivery in the agriculture sector, including shortages of staff that affect farmers’ access to support.
Meanwhile, Shiselweni I MP Shawnette Henwood questioned delays in delivering farming equipment to farmers, saying timely access to machinery was important for successful farming.
Responding to concerns raised by MPs, Minister of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka said government continued implementing programmes aimed at supporting farmers and improving agricultural production.
He said the Ministry was working through different initiatives to ensure farmers received the necessary support to increase production.
Tshawuka added that government was also protecting local farmers through laws under the National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBoard), which regulate agricultural imports through border gates.
He said local farmers should not be subjected to unfair competition from producers outside the country who may have more advantages.
“It would be unfair competition to say our farmers must compete with people outside the country who have many privileges,” said Tshawuka.
The MPs said reducing the cost of farming inputs would be a major step towards encouraging more emaSwati to venture into agriculture, increasing local production and strengthening the country’s journey towards food security and self-sufficiency.
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