Background

Swaziland is a small, mountainous and landlocked country in southern Africa with an economy based largely on agriculture and agro-industry. Food security is threatened by a number of factors including low rainfall, rising unemployment rates and increasing poverty. Furthermore, Swaziland has one of the highest prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS (about 39 percent) in the world. Widespread ill health and the ensuing loss of income have exacerbated the already severe impact of adverse weather.

Swaziland’s economy depends heavily on South Africa, from which it receives over 80 percent of its imports and to which it sends 74 percent of its exports. Production of sugar, citrus, and wood pulp as well as asbestos and coal are the major sectors.

In 2004 and 2005, GDP growth averaged only 2 percent - primarily due to a decrease in agricultural productivity, repeated droughts and declining domestic and foreign investment. The country continues to suffer below average and declining maize production levels due to erratic rainfall. Low rainfall is particularly a problem in the Lowveld and dry Middleveld areas. During the 2006/07 season, a combination of prolonged dry spells and high temperatures at critical stages of the maize crop development resulted in its lowest annual harvest ever recorded in Swaziland.

FAO’s emergency role in Swaziland

The Emergency Coordination Unit (ECU) in Swaziland delivers a programme that aims to enhance sustainable livelihoods for the most vulnerable households and reduce negative coping strategies (such as sale of farm implements to buy inputs and food) that are employed by farmers in times of stress.

Any failure to plant or even delays in planting crops leads to food shortages. Consequently, vulnerable groups continue to rely on food aid which is unsustainable in the long term.

The ECU’s projects work to ensure timely planting through provision of agricultural inputs to vulnerable households.  FAO works in collaboration with Swaziland’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to allow smallholder crop producers access to seeds though Input Trade Fairs (ITFs) in the drought affected regions of Swaziland.

Other FAO interventions led by the ECU include:

• the establishment of 70 Neighbourhood Care Point gardens throughout Swaziland
• improving sustainability of community gardens in (collaboration with NGO partners) through provision of fencing material, some seedlings and water tanks
• water management and harvesting
• conservation agriculture