Manzini -NAMBoard CEO Bhekizwe Maziya recently revealed that Eswatini’s agricultural imports exceed E2 billion annually, including imports of fruits, vegetables, maize, and beans. During a speech at The George Hotel in Manzini, he also announced the expansion of the farmer’s loan scheme to E10 million, aimed at addressing barriers to farmer financing. The loan scheme, especially for horticulture, has seen 45 applications, with 24% approved, translating to 11 loans. Maziya noted that issues like poor business planning and bad credit history are among the reasons for the low loan uptake. To address these challenges, a diagnostic tool has been developed to identify and resolve these impediments.
Additionally, Maziya announced an expansion of the grain fund to E2 million. The event will also include the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between three government parastatals: NAMBoard, National Maize Corporation, and Eswatini Bank. This partnership aims to enhance financial access for farmers and reduce dependency on imports.
