COVID-19: RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR FARMERS

MBABANE – In anticipation of increased demand for essential food items like maize and beans due to COVID-19, NMC is giving farmers a rare chance to produce certain crops on its behalf this winter.

NMC is the National Maize Corporation and it is presenting an opportunity to interested farmers, companies or co-operatives with fields or farms with irrigation infrastructure to venture into winter dry maize and/or beans production. This will ensure a constant supply of these commodities.

Targeted

Impeccable sources said up to 6 000 hectares was targeted for the project. Each qualifying farmer will be assessed to identify the technical assistance needed at that particular farm.
“Interested individuals are expected to commence production as soon as possible and produce maize and/or beans solely for NMC. The corporation may provide support where possible, subject to availability of funds and magnitude of support required,” reads a correspondence from NMC.

The Corporation may provide both technical and financial support subject to availability. The budget for the project could not be immediately ascertained at the time of compiling this report.

A questionnaire sent to NMC on the full breakdown of the project was yet to be replied to at the  time of compiling this report.
NMC, which is under the Ministry of Agriculture, was established with the objectives of guaranteeing a market to local maize farmers at competitive prices and providing good quality maize meal at reasonable prices to emaSwati. Some of its responsibilities include guaranteeing an all year round competitive market for Eswatini maize farmers.

 Improving

Other NMC duties include reducing marketing barriers and costs to Eswatini farmers by improving maize marketing and logistics services (through running silos efficiently, registration of producers, provision of drying services and price information).

It further guarantees all year round supplies of maize at reasonable cost to the nation on top increasing the efficiency of the maize market in Eswatini by promoting the availability of white maize to consumers at reasonable cost in all regions of the country.

Interested individuals should indicate with NMC before May 4, 2020 (next Monday). Requests for clarification can be addressed to Siboniso Ngwenya at 7602 3166.

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