BY PHESHEYA KUNENE- EDITOR
MANZINI – Eswatini’s small scale producers, agripreneurs and cooperative enterprises will step into the retail spotlight tomorrow when the Organisation of Women in International Trade (OWIT) Eswatini, in partnership with OK Foods Eswatini, hosts its first ever Christmas Fair at Kwaluseni in Matsapha.
More than a festive market, the Fair marks a strategic intervention aimed at closing one of the most stubborn gaps in Eswatini’s agribusiness ecosystem, access to formal markets. For years, many farmers and agro processors have mastered production but struggled to cross the threshold into retail.
Tomorrow’s event is designed to bridge that divide.
OWIT Eswatini President Dudu Nhlengetfwa said the Fair represents a deliberate shift from informal trading towards structured market participation.
She said the partnership with OK Foods creates a real pathway for local producers to test their products in a commercial environment, receive feedback, and begin aligning with retail standards that unlock sustainable growth.
The Fair brings together multipurpose cooperatives operating within closed and inclusive value chains, where members are no longer confined to primary production. Many have moved into processing, packaging, branding and value addition, producing market ready goods developed specifically for this showcase.
According to Nhlengetfwa, this evolution reflects what can be achieved when producers organise collectively and invest in quality and consistency.
She said cooperatives showcased at the Fair demonstrate that local production can compete when given the right platform, technical discipline and market exposure.
As host and retail partner, OK Foods Eswatini has opened its commercial space to locally produced goods, offering visibility, consumer engagement and potential future shelf placement, subject to compliance and quality requirements. All participating products will undergo assessment against national and applicable international standards, reinforcing a culture of competitiveness within the cooperative sector.
From an agribusiness perspective, the Fair signals a practical model for import substitution and local sourcing. By linking producers directly with retailers, the initiative shortens supply chains, reduces reliance on imports and keeps value within local communities.
Tomorrow’s showcase will feature locally produced food items, agro processed products, crafts, textiles and artisanal innovations, with strong participation from women, youth and disability inclusive enterprises.
For farmers and agripreneurs, the Fair offers more than sales. It provides market intelligence, exposure to consumer preferences and insight into retail expectations, factors that often determine whether small enterprises stagnate or scale.
Nhlengetfwa said the Christmas Fair is intended to be a launchpad rather than a once off event.
She said OWIT Eswatini envisions future editions that deepen market integration, strengthen cooperative capacity and position local producers as reliable suppliers within Eswatini’s retail sector.
The Christmas Fair takes place tomorrow, Friday, from 9am to 5pm at the Kwaluseni OK Grocer parking area in Matsapha, under the theme Celebrating Local Products, Empowering Communities.
For Eswatini’s agribusiness sector, the message is clear, production alone is no longer enough. The future lies in value addition, quality assurance and strategic partnerships that turn local effort into commercial success.
