HHUKWINI: Jabulani Mabuza, the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperative has launched a R53million Eswatini Agriculture Development Fund.
Speaking at Hhukwini Inkhundla last weekend during the launch, the Agriculture Minister said, the Fund will address the critical financing gaps in the agricultural sector and create an enabling environment for farmers, agribusinesses, and other players to thrive.
“The priorities of the fund will be informed by the National Agriculture Investment Plan which itself will be prioritizing investments entailed in the commodity Sector Development Plans Agreements (SDPAs).As we all know; agriculture is the backbone of our Nation.It has been the mainstay of our economy, providing food security, livelihoods for the majority of our people and contributing significantly to our GDP. However, we also recognize that the sector faces several challenges that hinder its full potential. These challenges include limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure, climate change, and outdated farming practices,” said the Minister as quoted by Government online platforms.
The Minister further mention that the vision of the Fund, was to facilitate strong linkages in the agriculture and food industry ecosystem, by spearheading and supporting deployment of both financial and policy instruments.
Agriculture Minister Jabulani Mabuza.