The Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE) is reshaping rural development through large-scale irrigation projects, clean water access, and innovative farming models. Under the leadership of CEO Dr. Samson Sithole, the state-owned entity has become a critical player in Eswatini’s economic and social transformation.
In an interview with Forbes Africa, Dr. Sithole shared how EWADE’s work has moved from promise to impact, beginning with the Komati Development Project, which converted 6,000 hectares into productive farmland. “The results spoke for themselves,” he said, describing how the project sparked a new wave of commercial irrigation efforts aimed at poverty reduction.
Building on that momentum, EWADE launched the Lower Usuthu Smallholder Irrigation Project (LUSIP), now in its second phase. The first stage covered 6,500 hectares, and by 2026, the project aims to expand significantly. Despite facing natural challenges like floods and droughts, LUSIP has continued to thrive, thanks to the resilience of participating communities.
A more ambitious project — the Mkhondo-Ngwavuma Water Augmentation Scheme — is currently underway in the Shiselweni region. Once completed, it will irrigate 30,000 hectares and potentially create around 100,000 jobs. The project also includes a major agro-processing hub to reduce the country’s reliance on sugarcane by introducing crops like cotton and banner grass, the latter targeted at powering Eswatini’s first large-scale bioenergy initiatives.
Private investors, particularly from South Africa, are increasingly partnering with EWADE to fund and expand these developments. This interest extends beyond agriculture, with plans underway for an Eco-City near the Mkhondo site. The planned urban center will include residential areas, schools, and commercial zones, built around sustainable principles. “We’re not just growing crops; we’re growing communities,” said Dr. Sithole.
The agency’s approach is also evolving to include innovative ownership models for smallholder farmers. In Ndzevane, farmers cultivating bananas for export are being offered stakes in the processing facilities, ensuring they benefit from both production and export profits.
EWADE’s blueprint for development hinges on integrating local farmers, the private sector, and government investment in a way that spreads economic opportunity across Eswatini’s rural heartland.
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