BY SIBUSISO MNGADI

Bethany, Eswatini – On 4 March 2025, the Eswatini Ministry of Defence hosted its partners, the National Maize Corporation (NMC) and the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE), for a field visit to assess the progress of a maize farming project on a 50-hectare farm located at Bethany in Matsapha.

The visit was attended by the Ministry of Defence Under Secretary’s representative, Mr. S. Malambe, NMC Chief Executive Officer Mr. Mavela Vilane, and EWADE Chief Executive Officer Dr. S. Sithole. The tripartite project, funded by EWADE, has leveraged technical expertise from Farmer Development Officers (Balimisi) from all three parties, ensuring the success of the maize farming initiative despite climate challenges experienced this season. The project is on track to yield up to six tons per hectare.

Bethany Farm Manager, Mr. Richard Dlamini, provided a progress update, highlighting the strategic efforts taken to maximize food production. “We were given the mandate to produce food, and after consulting with NMC and EWADE, we formalized a partnership through an MoU. Today, we are seeing the results of that agreement,” he said.

Despite facing challenges such as pest infestations, the farm has successfully cultivated 42 hectares of maize on this side of the NAMBoard. Mr. Dlamini emphasized the need for drones to improve pest control and mechanical harvesters to enhance efficiency in future seasons. “We are grateful to EWADE for providing funding and to NMC for facilitating technical support, including tractor hours. This collaboration is crucial in ensuring that we meet our production targets,” he added.

Mr. Vilane of NMC noted the extensive preparations that went into making the project a success. “EWADE provided the financial resources, while NMC facilitated the necessary tractor services. The farm’s progress is being closely monitored, including the use of drones for oversight,” he explained.

The anticipated yield of 250 tonnes is expected to generate an estimated E1.5 million, with proceeds earmarked to repay financing from EWADE. This initiative serves as a model for future agricultural development projects aimed at reducing Eswatini’s reliance on food imports.

Representing the Principal Secretary, Under Secretary Mr. Malambe commended the perseverance shown despite previous challenges. “We aim to reduce our national food budget, and this project is a step in the right direction. We must replicate this success on more farms across the country,” he stated.

Lieutenant Magongo from the Defence Force echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of self-sufficiency. “This tripartite agreement is commendable. The question now is whether this is just a pilot or if we are already scaling up. We need to expand this initiative. Idle land has now been transformed into a productive resource that will feed the nation. If we cannot feed ourselves, we can never achieve anything worthwhile,” he said.

With a promising harvest on the horizon, stakeholders expressed optimism that the partnership would be extended beyond the initial three years. The Bethany Farm project stands as a testament to the power of collaboration in addressing food security challenges in Eswatini.