Find Agriculture expertise in Swaziland
- Industry
- Development
Industry
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries contributed 7.7% of Swaziland’s GDP in 2010 and around 71.0% of land is given over to agricultural use. Small-scale farming is common and for such producers the main crop is maize and the most important livestock is cattle. The majority of the rest of the sector comprises large estates – extensive areas of which are irrigated – engaged mainly in the production of sugar cane, tobacco, citrus fruit, pineapples, cotton and cattle, or in forestry. Major exports are sugar, cotton yarn and citrus fruits; processed exports such as canned fruit and soft drinks concentrates also play an important role in the industry. The principal consumers of Swaziland’s agricultural exports are South Africa, the EU, Mozambique and the US. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is responsible for agriculture at a federal level. The National Maize Corporation (NMC), established in 1985 is the representative body for maize farmers in the country and monitors purchase, storage and marketing of the crop. Another important body is the Swaziland Dairy Board (SDB), which offers advice on all aspects of dairy farming and promotes development in the sector.
Development
The World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report (2012-2013) ranks Swaziland 70th out of 144 countries with a score of 3.9 out of 7 in relation to agricultural policy costs, equal to the world mean. The Ministry of Agriculture sets out two main goals for industry development; firstly to progress towards a commercially dominated sector over the next four to five years by commercialising certain subsistence farming establishments and secondly to ensure sustainable growth in the agricultural industry, which will maintain national and household food security. The potential for biofuel production from maize and sugar cane has been investigated but no substantial commitment has so far been made. The Swaziland Agricultural Development Project (SADP) is designed to increase production on small scale farms by identifying and targeting areas for improvement and improving links between small holders and markets. The Swazi government has a signed compact Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). The Swazi government, with Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMSEA), agreed to develop a National Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plan (NAIP) by the end of 2012. The Swaziland Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (SWADE) is involved in water infrastructure and irrigation developments in the country.
| Agriculture organisations in Swaziland | |
|---|---|
| Lwati Training Institute |
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| Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives |
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| Swaziland Dairy Board |
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| Swaziland Environment Authority |
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| TWK Landmark |
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