Eswatini exporting jobs, losing E1.1bn annually

MATSAPHA – Minister for Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka says the country’s failure to produce enough maize and beans means it is exporting jobs and losing at least E1.1 billion per year to South Africa.

The minister, who was the guest speaker during the National Maize Corporation (NMC) Farmers Awards 2025, which were held at Esibayeni Lodge, Matsapha, said the exportation of jobs to neighbouring South Africa and using about E1.1 billion to import maize and beans, is happening at a time when the country is facing a high unemployment rate and poverty.

He said Eswatini requires approximately 140 000 metric tonnes of maize and around 7 000 metric tonnes of beans annually to ensure food self-sufficiency. However, he stated that currently, the country is producing at least about 77 000 metric tonnes of maize and 1 039 tonnes of beans. He highlighted that this is the first time the country produces 1 039 tonnes of beans.

“Since we are failing to produce enough maize and beans, the people who produce  are in South Africa, where we buy it. This is what I mean when I say we are exporting the jobs we do not have, to South Africa. EmaSwati are supposed to be employed in the farming industry in order to produce enough maize and beans and the E1.1billion we spend to import these products from South Africa, would be circulating in the country, stimulating our economy in the process,” the minister said.

He highlighted that in fact, the country loses about E2.2 billion importing food items, including vegetables and other food stuffs, from neighbouring countries, mainly South Africa.

In that regard, he urged emaSwati to join farming in order to fight the alarming unemployment rate and  realise food sovereignty. He also urged farmers to venture into producing soya beans.

He said as a ministry, they have three mandates, which include those they got during the 2023 Sibaya (people’s Parliament) and they are; food sovereignty and self-sufficiency, service delivery and decentralisation, together with employment creation.

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