Mbabane– Eswatini is forfeiting jobs, investment and millions of emalangeni by exporting raw agricultural produce only to import higher-value finished products, Minister of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka has said, warning that the country must urgently expand its agro-processing industry to keep wealth within its borders.
Eswatini is losing significant economic value because it continues to export raw agricultural commodities while importing processed food products that could be manufactured locally, Tshawuka has revealed.
Speaking during an interview on Eswatini Market View on Monday, Tshawuka said the country must urgently invest in agro-processing if it is to create jobs, industrialise the agricultural sector and retain more income within the domestic economy.
His remarks come ahead of the National Strategic Dialogue on Transforming Agriculture and Agribusiness in Eswatini, a two-day forum jointly hosted by government and the World Bank, where stakeholders will discuss findings of the Eswatini Agriculture Sector Review Report: Catalysing Agri-Food System Transformation.
Tshawuka said Eswatini produces large quantities of tomatoes, yet much of the crop leaves the country in its raw form before returning as tomato paste and tomato sauce.
“We should be producing the tomato sauce in the country. That would create jobs and keep the wealth here instead of exporting it,” he said. He added that the same trend is evident in groundnut production, where local farmers produce the crop but the country continues to import peanut butter despite the higher value lying in processed products.
The minister also pointed to the pork industry, saying Eswatini has already achieved self-sufficiency in pig production and exports pork, but still misses opportunities to manufacture premium products such as bacon and speciality sausages.
“That is where the value is lost. That is where the money escapes the country,” Tshawuka said. He said expanding agro-processing would not only increase farmers’ incomes but also guarantee markets for agricultural produce, extend the shelf life of food products and improve Eswatini’s competitiveness in export markets.
The World Bank review further recommends greater adoption of modern farming technologies, including drones, precision agriculture tools and soil-monitoring equipment, as well as innovative financing solutions to encourage more investment in agriculture.
According to Tshawuka, climate change and limited access to finance remain among the biggest constraints facing the sector, making it essential for government, financiers and private investors to work together to modernise agriculture.
The minister said the upcoming strategic dialogue will also feature an agricultural marketplace, bringing together farmers, agro-processors, retailers, financial institutions and technology providers to strengthen agricultural value chains and unlock new business opportunities.
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