MBABANE – The National Maize Corporation (NMC) has secured first place in the Service of the Year category at the SADC Quality Awards.
The recognition positions the corporation among the leading institutions, driving service excellence and innovation across the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The accolade, widely regarded as a benchmark for quality and operational efficiency in the region, affirms NMC’s continued commitment to delivering reliable, efficient and high-quality services within the country’s grain and food security ecosystem.
It also highlights Eswatini’s growing capacity to compete at a regional level in critical sectors such as agriculture, which remains central to economic stability and rural livelihoods.
For NMC, the award is more than symbolic recognition.
It signals the organisation’s sustained progress in strengthening service delivery across the maize value chain, from farmer support and input distribution to storage, processing and market access.
These functions are crucial in a country where maize is both a staple food and a key pillar of national food security. The achievement comes at a time when countries across the SADC region are increasingly prioritising resilience in food systems amid climate variability, rising input costs and shifting global supply dynamics.
In a statement following the announcement, NMC Chief Executive Officer Mavela Vilane described the award as a milestone that reinforces the organisation’s long-term vision for the grains sector.
He emphasised that the recognition would serve as motivation to further intensify efforts aimed at strengthening maize production and ensuring food security.
Vilane said the corporation remained committed to fostering a vibrant and self-sustaining maize industry in Eswatini. He expressed confidence that the country could achieve food sovereignty within its lifetime, provided there was continued investment in productivity, farmer support systems and strategic grain reserves.He noted that NMC’s approach is anchored on delivering optimal services to farmers, enabling them to increase yields and meet national demand.
This, he said, is critical not only for food security but also for economic empowerment, particularly in rural communities where agriculture is a primary source of income.
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