Resource Mobilization

Restoring Fruit and Vegetable Production for Swaziland's Farmers

Over the last decade, low rainfall and the persistent threat of climate change have left 21 percent of Swaziland food insecure, with almost the entire population failing to eat an adequate quantity of fruit and vegetables. Rural farmers have limited knowledge of how to maximize the productivity of their land and ensure that they meet their food and nutrition needs, while farmers urgently need to improve crop diversity if food security and dietary needs are to be addressed. Meanwhile, the value of imported crop products exceeded fivefold that of exports between 2005 and 2013. These factors made it necessary to promote climate-smart agriculture practices and contribute to building resilience and increasing farmers’ incomes from agriculture.

What did the project do

The project established smallholder farmer groups, as well as fruit and vegetable demonstration and production sites. Extension officers from the Ministry of Agriculture were trained on horticulture crops and good agricultural practices, while the agriculture extension manual was updated. Efforts were also made to enhance market linkages for farmers for cluster household fruit and vegetable production.

Impact

The efforts made by the project to build the capacities and knowledge of smallholder farmers, producers and rural extension officers will have the effect of strengthening resilience and crop diversity. This, in turn, should lead to a restoration of Swaziland’s marked import-export imbalance and increase incomes in the agricultural sector, while boosting food security in rural areas and in the country as a whole.

Activities

  • 9 000 fruit tree seedlings – including mango, avocado, litchi, papaw, peach and nectarine – distributed to 110 farming households and groups from the Rural Development Areas of Dvumako, Siphofaneni, Central, Ntfonjeni and Motshane.
  • 36 extension officers from the Ministry of Agriculture and the NAM Board trained on the production and marketing of fruit and vegetables and the same number trained as business service providers.
  • Seven awareness-raising workshops held in six project areas and attended by 188 farmers.
  • Eight practical trainings conducted for smallholder farmers in the six project areas, benefiting 110 households. Topics covered included Conservation Agriculture, agroforestry, market-oriented production and post-harvest handling.
  • Market/demand analysis study produced by two consultants.
Project symbol: TCP/SWA/3501
Project title: Support Household Climate Smart, Market Led Fruit and Vegetable Production
Contact: FAO Office in Swaziland / Joyce MulilaMitti (Lead Technical Officer)
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Download PDF: http://www.fao.org/3/BT837/bt837.pdf