BY SIBUSISIWE NDZIMANDZE

EZULWINI – Eswatini has validated its 5th Biennial Review Report (BRR) under the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), concluding the Malabo Declaration cycle (2015–2025) and preparing to embrace a new era under the Kampala Declaration.

The national workshop, held at Happy Valley Hotel, convened policymakers, farmer organizations, academia, the private sector, and development partners to assess the country’s agricultural performance and identify gaps across seven Malabo commitments.

“This is our national report to Africa,” declared Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Sydney Simelane. “It must comprehensively reflect what we’ve achieved from grassroots to policy level.”

While the report shows progress since the last review, stakeholders flagged persistent data gaps that undermine planning and performance tracking.

Focus Areas: Data, Finance, and Equity

Director of the Eswatini Agriculture Development Fund (EADF), Ms. Nokwazi Hlophe, pointed to gender disparities in agri-finance and data inconsistencies across input use, land area, and farmer registration.

“We’ve seen an increase in access to finance from 2022 to 2024,” she noted. “But informal financing—especially for women—is not captured, and data duplication is a serious issue.”

Challenges Identified

• Inconsistent and incomplete data
• Underrepresentation of smallholder farmers
• Gaps in private sector and financial institution reporting
• Weak coordination across agriculture, health, trade, and environment sectors

Strategic Interventions Proposed

The Ministry outlined actions linked to the 2nd Generation National Agriculture Investment Plan (2023–2028), including:

• Rolling out an Agriculture Integrated Information System (AIIS)
• Establishing a dedicated Agriculture Development Fund
• Developing Commodity Sector Development Plans
• Strengthening ties with industry bodies and development partners
• Scaling up nutrition security programs for vulnerable communities

Kampala Declaration Ushers In New Priorities

Looking ahead, Eswatini is aligning with the Kampala CAADP Declaration (2025–2035), which shifts focus toward:

• Climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive agriculture
• Digital innovation
• Food systems transformation
• Women and youth empowerment

“The future of agriculture lies in integrated planning, digital tools, and inclusive value chains,” Simelane emphasized.

What’s Next?

The finalized BRR will be submitted to the African Union Commission as Eswatini’s concluding report under the Malabo framework. It will inform future policies, attract investment, and guide the country’s alignment with continental agricultural transformation goals.