By: Sibandze Sikhona
MBABANE – Eswatini’s young farmers are set to gain unprecedented opportunities in farming and agribusiness through the Smallholder Agriculture Productivity Enhancement and Marketing Project (SAPEMP). Valued at $45 million (over E800 million), the initiative promises to break down barriers of access to land, markets, and finance—longstanding challenges for the youth.
Pathway to Agribusiness for Young People
SAPEMP is designed to make farming attractive and viable for young people by:
- Providing access to subsidised inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and climate-smart technologies.
- Offering tailored agribusiness training and mentorship, equipping youth with technical and entrepreneurial skills.
- Creating jobs beyond the farm, in areas like logistics, value-addition, storage, and digital agricultural services.
- Guaranteeing secure markets through contracts facilitated by NAMBoard, giving youth-led cooperatives and individuals the confidence to scale up production.
For many young people, this programme represents a bridge from subsistence farming to commercial agribusiness. As EWADE CEO Dr. Samson Sithole put it: “This project is not just about improving production; it is about building resilience, raising incomes, and transforming communities.”
Access and Application: What Youth Must Do
To benefit from SAPEMP, young farmers must meet specific requirements:
- Belong to organised groups – farmers need to be part of recognised associations, cooperatives, or clusters endorsed by NAMBoard or the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Screening process – applicants will go through community and regional vetting to prioritise youth-headed households and those already farming but in need of scaling up.
- Commitment to climate-smart and digital practices – adopting improved seed varieties, irrigation systems, and digital tools will be essential.
Successful beneficiaries will receive support packages valued at several thousand Emalangeni per season, depending on the enterprise type (crops, horticulture, livestock).
Digital Farming Innovation
A major innovation under SAPEMP is the Agricultural Integrated Information System (AIIS), a digital platform that connects farmers to real-time market intelligence, pricing trends, and extension support.
By integrating young farmers into this system, SAPEMP is ensuring that youth can participate in data-driven, tech-enabled agriculture, positioning them to compete in modern value chains.
A Collective Effort for Transformation
While youth are the key focus, SAPEMP also empowers women, persons with disabilities, and child-headed households. According to Dr. Sithole, “Women’s empowerment lies at the very core of this programme, ensuring active participation in agribusiness and financial decision-making.”
Francesco Rispoli of IFAD described the initiative as “a powerful demonstration of joint commitment to climate-smart agriculture and rural transformation.”
The MoU That Launched It All
The programme was formally launched through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE) and the National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBoard) at Mountain View Hotel in Mbabane.
The partnership, under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, brings together national and international stakeholders—including IFAD and the Green Climate Fund—to create a comprehensive support system for smallholder farmers.
The Bigger Picture
By combining digital tools, market access, and youth-focused training, SAPEMP is set to ignite rural entrepreneurship, improve food security, and create jobs.
For Eswatini’s youth, it is not just a farming project—it is a gateway into the wider agribusiness economy, from production to processing and exports.
