NAMBoard’s Head of Agribusiness, Sydney Dladla, is making his remarks at the NAMBoard’s farmers’ roadshow in Siphofaneni RDA
BY SIBUSISIWE NDZIMANDZE | JOURNALIST
SIPHOFANENI — Farming high-value crops such as butternut has positioned Vuvulane-based farmer Mduduzi Mashinini as one of Lubombo’s top performers, after he was crowned Lubombo’s best supplier for the second time by the National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBoard).
Mashinini secured first position after supplying 56.08 tonnes of butternut, outperforming other farmers during the final leg of the NAMBoard Farmers Roadshow held at Siphofaneni RDA.
He was followed by Welile Hlophe, who supplied a combined 14.53 tonnes made up of beetroot (300 kg), butternut (3,101 kg), and tomato (11,130 kg), while Mbongeni Goodwill Simelane took third position with 13.13 tonnes, supplying butternut (12.417 kg) and pepper (709 kg).
HIGH-VALUE CROPS DRIVING SUCCESS
Speaking after receiving the award, Mashinini said his success is rooted in focusing on crops that already have a market.
“Knowing your market is very important. Once you understand what is needed, you can plan your production properly,” he said.
The Vuvulane farmer explained that he started with maize production on a single hectare before transitioning into horticulture, where he began supplying NAMBoard with support from extension officers.
Today, he produces both maize and butternut, with his butternut production on two hectares, supported by a drip irrigation system, driving his strong performance and enabling a consistent supply.
WHY DRIP IRRIGATION WORKS FOR BUTTERNUT
Mashinini’s use of drip irrigation has played a key role in his consistent performance, particularly in butternut production.
The system delivers water directly to the root zone, ensuring plants receive a steady and controlled supply of moisture, a critical requirement for butternut, which needs consistent watering for proper fruit development and quality.
Unlike traditional irrigation methods, drip irrigation reduces water loss through evaporation and minimises runoff, making it more efficient and cost-effective.
It also helps maintain uniform crop growth, improves yields, reduces disease risk by keeping leaves dry, and allows for fertiliser application through irrigation, improving nutrient uptake.
For a crop like butternut, where size, quality, and consistency determine market acceptance, drip irrigation enables farmers to meet the standards required by buyers such as NAMBoard.
FROM SMALL SCALE TO COMMERCIAL IMPACT
Mashinini’s journey highlights how farmers can move from small-scale production to commercial success by shifting towards high-value, market-driven crops, supported by efficient production systems.
First winner in the Lubombo region, Mduduzi Mashinini, a butterbut farmer in Vuvulane.
His consistent performance over two consecutive years reflects not only production capacity but also the ability to meet structured market demand.
AWARDS PROMOTE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION
Speaking on behalf of NAMBoard CEO Bhekizwe Maziya, Head of Agribusiness Sydney Dladla said the Best Performer Awards are meant to encourage farmers to transition into commercial agriculture.
“The purpose of these awards is to motivate farmers to produce at scale. We want farmers to move from small-scale production to supplying the market consistently,” he said.
He noted that top-performing farmers are those who understand market requirements and are able to deliver both volume and consistency.
REGISTRATION AND DATA KEY TO GROWTH
Dladla emphasised the importance of farmer registration through the Eswatini Horticulture Information System (EHIS), which enables NAMBoard to track production and manage the market.
“In the case of Mashinini, we know that there is Mashinini in Vuvulane producing butternut because we have that information in our database,” he said.
He explained that such data allows NAMBoard to manage imports and prioritise locally produced goods when supply is sufficient.
At the same time, access to production data helps farmers avoid oversupplying certain crops, which can result in falling prices.
NEED FOR CONTRACTS AND RECORDS
Farmers were also encouraged to secure contracts before scaling production to avoid losses.
“If you are producing commercially, you need a contract, whether with NAMBoard or another buyer, so that your produce has a guaranteed market,” said Dladla.
He further urged farmers to keep proper records and share data, even when supplying outside the NAMBoard, to allow for broader recognition in future awards.
He noted that while current awards are largely based on deliveries made to NAMBoard, there is potential to expand recognition to farmers supplying other markets, provided there is credible and verifiable data.
“All we need is credible data. It cannot be based on word of mouth. We need records that show what has been produced and sold,” he said.
SHIFT TOWARDS MARKET-DRIVEN FARMING
The Lubombo results highlight a growing shift in Eswatini’s agriculture sector, where success is increasingly driven by high-value crop production aligned with market demand and supported by efficient farming systems.
For Mashinini, the approach is clear:
understand the market first, then scale production to meet it.
As more farmers adopt this model, the sector stands to unlock stronger productivity, improved market access, and increased incomes across the agricultural value chain.
Outstanding winners at the NAMBoards Farmers Roadshow in Siphofaneni RDA with their extension officer.
