Agriculture Business and Investment Forum 2024, Eswatini

Your Excellency, the Right Honorable Prime Minister,

Cabinet Ministers present,

The UN Resident Coordinator, George Wachira,

Principal Secretaries,

Senior Government Officials,

Private Sector Representatives,

Investment partners,

Media Houses,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Morning

I am pleased to be with you at this Agriculture Business and Investment Forum bringing together public and private sector partners to share ideas, and best practices, learn from each other and find ways to collaborate for agrifood systems transformation. The theme of this investment forum is  MOBILISING AGRI-FOOD SECTOR PARTNERS TO TRANSFORM AGRICULTURE. This platform today offers a mechanism for change, for greater collaboration and commitment to do more for a food-secure future.

The Government of Eswatini and its strategic partners are key in facilitating investment in agriculture and the implementation of the National Agricultural Investment Plan and all its annexes including mainly the Sector Development Plan agreements, the Agricultural Development Fund, and commodity associations. I am pleased to see the progress achieved thus far.

Each time I get the opportunity to engage with all of you, I am assured that by strengthening the productive capacity and resilience of livelihoods, we can eliminate food and nutrition insecurity. In many countries, there is a realization that good policy documents exist, however, there are serious challenges with implementation and transforming policy pronouncements into action and impact.   The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is supporting the Government of Eswatini with the development of the Agrifood Systems Transformation Action Programme, which is supposed to facilitate the acceleration of agrifood system transformation.  

I want to thank the private sector and members of civil society organizations for the support you have provided to the Government of Eswatini in helping it to shape, promote and mobilize resources needed to operationalize the Agricultural Development Fund which is a catalytic fund that stands as a cornerstone in funding grassroots agricultural enterprises, smallholder farmers, farmer organizations and provision of seed capital to farmers.

Many countries around the world have begun using this business model to support smallholder farmers. It is commendable that Eswatini has embraced this approach to fund farmers at the grassroots level. This model also allows farmers without collateral to access much-needed support. At FAO, we are committed to backing the Government of Eswatini in its policy direction towards better production, improved nutrition, a healthier environment, and an enhanced quality of life, ensuring no one is left behind.

FAO in Eswatini Guided by the Country Programming framework is implementing several programmes aimed at transforming the agrifood systems. Among them is the Hand-in-Hand (HIH) Initiative which supports the implementation of nationally led, ambitious programmes to accelerate agrifood systems transformations by eradicating poverty (SDG1), ending hunger and malnutrition (SDG2), and reducing inequalities (SDG10).

The HIHi uses advanced geospatial modeling and analytics, as well as a robust partnership-building approach to accelerate the market-based transformation of agrifood systems — to raise incomes, improve the nutritional status and well-being of poor and vulnerable populations, and strengthen resilience to climate change.

The Initiative prioritizes countries and territories where poverty and hunger are highest, national capacities are limited, or operational difficulties are greatest due to natural or man-made crises. Areas of intervention have included developing value chains for priority commodities, building agro-industries and efficient water management systems, introducing digital services and precision agriculture, reducing food losses and waste, and addressing climate challenges and weather risks.

The Hand-in-Hand Initiative, launched in 2019, is a flagship of FAO and one of its core priority programme areas.

The FAO Global Action on One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) is an initiative developed to address issues impacting agrifoods systems. This initiative is country-led and country-driven, focusing on Special Agricultural Products (SAPs). We endeavour to support specialized agricultural products for the export market. In Eswatini this programme focuses on baby vegetable production for export by youth. Its focus is on improving the production, harvesting, storage, distribution, and consumption of agricultural products that are key to improving food security and nutrition.

As part of ongoing efforts to support smallholder farmers, FAO is currently implementing the Agro-Techno Hubs Pilot Project for increased smallholder farmers' incomes in Eswatini. This project seeks to pilot tunnel farming and other innovative green technologies as alternatives for increased export and food security while promoting sustainability and resilience among smallholder farmers.

FAO in collaboration with the Government of Eswatini through funds from the Green Climate Fund, is implementing the Green Cities Initiative. The Green Cities Initiative assists cities in identifying, developing and implementing strategies tailored to their context contributing to green urban regeneration, increasing the health and well-being of urban and peri-urban populations, supporting mitigation and adaptation to climate shocks and minimising the carbon footprint, strengthening urban-rural linkages, and promoting sustainable urban development.

We therefore urge the private sector to actively support smallholder farmers to help the country boost local production and reduce reliance on imports.

Therefore, we must consider agrifood systems transformation with the impact on the environment. That is why it is a special entry point on how to integrate the social, economic, and environmentally balanced approach to achieve our shared goals and objectives.

Ladies and gentlemen, from 14 to 18 October, FAO Headquarters will be convening and hosting a wide range of stakeholders for the World Food Forum. It will bring together world experts, impassioned changemakers and visionary leaders of all ages around the theme: “Good food for all, for today and tomorrow”. The World Food Forum (WFF), launched in 2021 as an independent network of partners hosted by FAO, serves as the premier global platform to actively shape agrifood systems for a better food future, accelerating the achievement of the SDGs. Organized around three pillars - Global Youth Action, Science and Innovation and Hand-in-Hand Investment - the 2024 flagship event leverages the power of intergenerational collaboration, as well as partnerships and action across policy, science, innovation, education, culture and investment.

I am aware that the Government of Eswatini will be actively participating in these key initiatives and would want to congratulate H.E Right Honorable Prime Minister Dlamini in our midst, for the urgency and strong rallying the country towards agrofood system transformation---under the NKWE approach---

As I conclude, This year, we will celebrate FAO’s 79th anniversary on  #WorldFoodDay on the 16th October 2024, with the theme: “Right to foods for a better life and a better future” which highlights the importance of diversity, nutrition, affordability, accessibility as well as the safety and sustainability of foods, raising awareness about how greater diversity of nutritious foods should be available in our fields, markets, and on our tables, for the benefit of all.

As we gather here today, let us all commit to deepening our collaboration and partnerships for investment in the sector, aligning our collective visions, and working diligently toward a brighter, food-secure future for all.

Let us continue to work together effectively, efficiently, and coherently, supporting agri-food systems transformation to achieve the Four Betters -Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment, and a Better Life leaving no one behind.

Thank you!