BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MALKERNS – A partnership between the Kingdom of Eswatini and Taiwan is opening new income opportunities for local farmers, with some already earning up to E2 000 a month from growing a single traditional vegetable variety and supplying major supermarkets across the country.
The encouraging results were highlighted during the opening of the Commercial Vegetable and Seed Production Training Workshop at the Mphophoma Conference Centre on Tuesday. The four-day programme forms part of Phase II of the Taiwan–Africa Vegetable Initiative (TAVI), which is designed to transform subsistence farming into profitable commercial agriculture.
The workshop brings together horticulture specialists and selected champion farmers who will receive practical training on commercial vegetable and seed production, equipping them with the skills needed to increase productivity, improve quality and access larger markets.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Principal Secretary Sydney Simelane described the initiative as a strategic investment in Eswatini’s agricultural future. He said the programme supports the country’s drive to strengthen food and nutrition security, create sustainable employment opportunities and build a climate-resilient agricultural sector.
Simelane noted that agriculture remains one of the country’s most important economic sectors, but inconsistent production methods and poor seed quality continue to limit commercial growth. He said addressing these challenges is essential if Eswatini is to unlock the full potential of its vegetable industry.
Participants will receive intensive training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), the Quality Declared Seed (QDS) system, seed regulations, quality management, seed processing, packaging, storage, post-harvest handling and modern marketing techniques.
To ensure the knowledge gained extends beyond the workshop, participants will also receive two newly developed technical manuals covering commercial vegetable production and commercial seed production. The manuals have been tailored to local farming conditions and are expected to serve as long-term reference guides for farmers, extension officers and agricultural specialists.
The programme places particular emphasis on Traditional African Vegetables, including amaranth, pumpkin leaves and okra. These crops are highly nutritious, thrive under local climatic conditions and are better able to withstand the effects of climate change, making them ideal for sustainable commercial production.
Representing the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Sofia Jeng said Taiwan has proudly supported the Taiwan–Africa Vegetable Initiative in Eswatini for nearly six years, helping improve both agricultural productivity and household nutrition.
She said the World Vegetable Center, working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, developed the new technical manuals to accelerate the commercialisation of vegetable and seed production while strengthening Eswatini’s growing horticultural industry.
Jeng said the partnership is already delivering measurable results. Farmers who once produced vegetables mainly for household consumption are now supplying leading supermarkets, while some are generating monthly incomes of up to E2 000 from a single traditional vegetable crop.
She encouraged participants to embrace the training and apply the practical skills they acquire, saying the growing demand for locally produced vegetables presents significant business opportunities for farmers willing to adopt commercial production methods.
According to Jeng, commercial vegetable farming is no longer simply an aspiration but an achievable business venture capable of improving household incomes, creating employment and strengthening national food security.
Reaffirming Taiwan’s longstanding partnership with Eswatini, she said Taiwan remains committed to sharing agricultural expertise, introducing innovative farming technologies and supporting initiatives that empower local farmers to become successful agribusiness entrepreneurs.
As Eswatini continues pursuing food self-sufficiency and agricultural commercialisation, the latest training initiative demonstrates how international partnerships are helping transform farming into a profitable enterprise while creating new economic opportunities for rural communities across the Kingdom.
