Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla is back in Eswatini after representing the Kingdom at the II Brazil-Africa Dialogue on Food Security, Fight Against Hunger, and Rural Development, which took place in Brasília from 19 to 22 May 2025.
Commissioned by His Majesty King Mswati III, Honourable Dladla led Eswatini’s delegation to the high-level summit hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The four-day meeting brought together African countries and Brazilian institutions to discuss practical solutions to hunger, food security and inclusive rural growth.
The Eswatini delegation also included Agriculture Minister Mandla Tshawuka and other senior officials. During the closing ceremony, the Kingdom officially joined the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, a platform launched during Brazil’s 2024 G20 presidency. The accession was confirmed through a ceremonial exchange with Brazil’s First Lady, Rosângela Lula da Silva.
By joining the Alliance, Eswatini is expected to benefit from access to funding, technical support, and research-based partnerships, particularly in the areas of aquaculture, smallholder farming, and climate-resilient agriculture.
Delegates visited key agricultural institutions such as the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), the National Supply Company (CONAB), and Nunes & Cia Fruit Production. These site visits provided insight into Brazil’s successful agricultural transformation, especially its support for small-scale farmers and its innovation in climate-smart farming.
Minister Tshawuka used the platform to pitch Eswatini’s growing tilapia aquaculture sector, seeking technical assistance from Embrapa to scale local fish farming and empower women and youth farmers. Eswatini is also looking to replicate Embrapa’s model by establishing a local research hub and implementing cold storage infrastructure to address post-harvest losses.
Government is set to form a joint task force, comprising officials from the Ministries of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs, to oversee follow-up action. The team is expected to develop Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with partners by mid-2026 and coordinate partnerships with institutions such as the African Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
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