EZULWINI – The call for stronger partnerships between retailers and local farmers has grown louder.
ESNAU Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tammy Dlamini, has urged major retail chains to establish supplier development programmes tailored to the needs of domestic agricultural producers.
Speaking at the second Eswatini Agriculture Business and Investment Forum, held at the Happy Valley Hotel from Wednesday to yesterday, the Eswatini National Agricultural Union (ESNAU) CEO said the time had come for the country’s retail sector to actively invest in the capacity and competitiveness of its suppliers.
This, he argued, was the only sustainable way to ensure that more of the produce on supermarket shelves originates from Eswatini’s own farms.
“A suppliers’ development programme would not only empower our farmers with the knowledge of what is expected from them, but it would also bridge the gap between supply potential and actual market access,” Dlamini said.
“Farmers need to understand quality standards, certification processes, pricing expectations, packaging requirements and delivery timelines. Without this knowledge, they are always on the back foot when competing with imports.”
Dlamini’s sentiments echoed the central theme of the two-day forum – the urgent need for contract farming arrangements that formalise relationships between farmers and buyers.
Contract farming, which has been successfully implemented in several countries, guarantees farmers a market for their produce while giving retailers the assurance of consistent supply and quality.
The forum, attended by Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, agribusiness executives and development partners, provided a rare platform, where farmers and retailers could openly discuss the obstacles holding back local sourcing.
The discussions revealed a complex set of issues – from production inefficiencies to cost disparities – that continue to drive Eswatini’s reliance on imported agricultural goods.
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