MBABANE – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has asked the World Food Programme (WFP) to support Eswatini’s plans to establish national grain reserves.
Dlamini made the request on Monday during a meeting with WFP Country Representative Nanga Kaye at the Private and Cabinet Office.
The meeting focused on strengthening the existing strategic partnership between government and the WFP, with food security and preparations for possible El Niño impacts forming part of the discussions.
Dlamini told Kaye that Eswatini’s long-term vision was to attain food sovereignty and sought the WFP’s support in establishing the country’s sovereignty grain reserves.
The Prime Minister also asked the organisation to assist government in developing a concept to strengthen the national school feeding programme.
The discussions also covered Eswatini’s El Niño response plan and the WFP’s anticipated role in supporting its implementation.
Dlamini urged the WFP to work closely with government on high-impact projects and to make greater use of locally available capacity in food distribution programmes.
He said doing so would help create employment opportunities for emaSwati.
The PM further encouraged the WFP to consider training emaSwati to implement the Cash Transfer Programme.
He said this would prepare the country for the possible need to introduce such a facility, should El Niño affect Eswatini.
Kaye reaffirmed the WFP’s commitment to supporting Eswatini’s national vision of attaining food sovereignty.
He also expressed confidence in Eswatini’s capacity to become a global game changer in food sovereignty.
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