MBABANE – Sugarcane-growing communities under the Eswatini Water and Development Enterprise (EWADE) have reaped one of their strongest financial performances to date.
This was reflected through the substantial E74 373 459.88 declared as dividends to 2 922 shareholders across 51 farmer companies (FCs) for the 2024/2025 financial year.
The payout represents a remarkable 22.1 per cent increase from the E60.9 million distributed in 2023/24, underscoring the continued strength of irrigated sugar cane operations and the steady growth of community-owned agribusinesses.
The comes as EWADE recently confirmed that total sugar cane revenue for its farmer companies rose sharply by 23 per cent, reaching E999.157 million – just shy of the E1 billion mark – up from E814.117 million the previous year.
The improved revenue performance was one of the highlights presented by EWADE Chief Executive Officer Dr Samson Sithole during an Editors Forum breakfast meeting at Tree Tops Resort recently, where he unpacked key achievements, economic contributions and infrastructure developments.
“Our impact continues to be farmer-centred. The near E1 billion revenue earned this year demonstrates that rural economies are moving, households are improving incomes and communities are participating meaningfully in the agricultural value chain,” Dr Sithole said.
According to EWADE, the surge in revenue and dividends has been driven largely by the expansion of irrigated sugar cane under the Lower Usuthu Smallholder Irrigation Project (LUSIP) Phase II, alongside other community-based agricultural programmes across the country.
Sugar cane production climbed to 1 108 680 tonnes, reflecting an increase of 411 462 tonnes from the previous reporting period. The expansion of land under irrigation within LUSIP II – now exceeding 3 000 hectares – has been the main driver of the increase, supported by improved water delivery efficiency and strengthened farm management practices.
The organisation also recorded significant gains in tax remittances linked to sugar cane production. Taxes remitted by farmer companies surged by E154.665 million, rising from E96.38 million to E251.045 million, which Dr Sithole said was ‘direct evidence that smallholder farmers are now strengthening the country’s fiscal base.’
*…
Water access nears completion across chiefdoms
MBABANE – EWADE’s commitment to basic community services continues to deliver strong results.
During the reporting period:
- 2 740 households gained access to potable water, benefitting 14 646 people.
- 2 874 households received sanitation facilities, improving conditions for 20 018 people.
Combined, these achievements represent 99.76 per cent of the enterprise’s original target of 20 000 beneficiaries. Potable water projects are now 100 per cent complete in six chiefdoms: Gamedze, Shongwe, Ngcamphalala, Mphumakudze, Lesibovu and KaMamba.
These improvements have significantly reduced the burden of water collection – particularly for women – and enhanced community health and household productivity.
Several national-scale agricultural development programmes under EWADE’s oversight made significant progress:
The Smallholder Agricultural Productivity and Marketing Enhancement Programme (SAPEMP) – valued at over E851 million – moved forward with community mobilisation and enterprise recruitment.
The Eswatini Youth Employment Opportunities Project (EYEOP), valued at E486 million, has been cleared in Parliament and is now awaiting Royal Assent before rollout.
LUSIP II continued its expansion, with over 3 000 hectares under irrigation and more on-farm development underway.
*Full article available in our publication
Leave a comment