NDZEVANE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION FUNDS AVAILABLE

MBABANE - A construction opportunity worth over E10 million has been availed by Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (Pty) Ltd (ESWADE).

The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini has received Financing from the African. Development Bank (AfDB) towards the cost of Lower Usuthu Smallholder Irrigation Project Phase II (LUSIP II). ESWADE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sam Sithole said some the of funds would be applied to eligible payments under the contract for construction of the Ndzevane potable water supply system, including water offtake, water treatment plant, pumping main, water storage reservoirs, distribution reticulation and standpipes.

He said ESWADE invites sealed bids from eligible bidders for the execution of the works, which include the construction of a settlement reservoir, treatment plant (vertical roughing and slow-sand filters), supply and install four submersible pumps, design, supply, install, testing and commissioning of a 15kW solar plant, supply and install two steel storage tanks (550 m3, and 50 m3), and the supply and install 28km PVC, and HDPE pipework ranging from OD 160mm to 25mm. “Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from and inspect the bidding documents at the office,” he said.

Worth noting, government has tasked ESWADE and  National Maize Corporation (NMC) to produce over 30 000 metric tons of grain maize through the commercial maize project. This project has the mammoth task of assisting the country to attain its food and nutrition security through the production of 30 000 metric tonnes of grain maize on annual basis. This tasked is to be achieved through the amalgamation of farmers under Eswatini Nation Land, commercial maize production on the government farms. For the project to be a success, government has allocated E44 million, entrusting ESWADE with the facilitation of maize production in the country through the commercial maize project in a partnership with NMC.

Government

It means farmers and commercial maize producers have been afforded an opportunity to supply government with maize and in turn, government would assist them through loans and further avail a market for them. NMC is the market that has been availed for the farmers through the commercial maize project and they have assured that their buying prices have been revised. Through the commercial maize project, a revolving fund was recreated in 2022 to assist maize famers with the ever escalating cost of farming inputs among other things.

The total value of inputs disbursed to date is E5 081 337.34, which supported farmers towards the production of 5 000 metric tonnes. ESWADE CEO Sam Sithole exclusively told the business desk that the government had demonstrated prioritisation of food security in the country by means of availing some of its farms including Buseleni and Ngwempisi for the purpose of maize production. The CEO said through the National Grains Farmers Association, the Regional Grains Association in the Shiselweni, Hhohho, Manzini and Lubombo regions, a total of 17 farmers were supported through the maize input support Revolving Fund.

“The total value of inputs and area under production was E83 074 and 172.5ha, respectively.  Farmers were able to repay the sum of E766 313.30 of the total amount loaned giving a 91.3 per cent success rate of the revolving fund. Only two farmers were recorded to have been unable to repay their loan from Manzini and Hhohho regions respectively,” he added. Sithole mentioned that the total contribution of the ENL farmers and the government farms was 778.14 metric tonnes. From these figures, he said it was clear that the farmers had the experience, commitment and zeal to assist the country to reach its food and nutrition security in the earliest possible time. NMC assured that the market of maize would always be available in the country and farmers should upscale production to meet the target.

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