BIG BEND - The multibillion Lower Usuthu Smallholder Irrigation Project (LUSIP) Phase I and II has received strong international recognition.
Kenward, who is the C
Paul Kenward has described the initiative as one of the most impactful rural transformation projects in Eswatini.
hief Executive Officer of ABF Sugar, the parent company of Ubombo Sugar Limited, said the project had significantly improved the quality of life for thousands of emaSwati living in the Lower Usuthu region. He made the remarks during an interview on Tuesday at Ubombo Sugar offices, where he highlighted the importance of partnerships between government institutions and the private sector in driving inclusive economic growth. According to Kenward, the collaboration between the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE) and Ubombo Sugar had become a practical demonstration of how agricultural development could uplift rural communities while strengthening the country’s sugar industry.
“The lives of people have genuinely changed through this project,” said Kenward. “You can clearly see the difference in the communities where the project has been implemented. Families are now able to build decent homes, connect electricity and create more stable livelihoods.”
He said the transformation went beyond agriculture, noting that the project had restored dignity and created economic opportunities for rural households that previously relied on subsistence farming.
LUSIP, which is one of Eswatini’s largest agricultural infrastructure projects, was established to bring irrigation water to the drought-prone Lowveld region, while integrating smallholder farmers into commercial agriculture, particularly sugar cane production.
The project has over the years become a major driver of rural economic development by enabling small-scale farmers to participate meaningfully in the sugar value chain. Kenward praised the partnership model adopted by EWADE and Ubombo Sugar, saying it had proven effective in empowering smallholder farmers through a combination of infrastructure development, technical support and guaranteed market access.
Under the arrangement, Ubombo Sugar manages sugar cane establishment on targeted hectares, while EWADE oversees the development of key infrastructure for farmer companies.
This includes irrigation systems, roads and other support structures necessary for commercial-scale production.
The ABF Sugar CEO said the model ensured that smallholder farmers were not left to navigate the complexities of commercial agriculture alone.
Instead, they were provided with the technical expertise and operational support required to produce sugar cane at the standards demanded by the industry.
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ABF Sugar Group Chief Executive Officer Paul Kenward. (Pic: Nhlanganiso Mkhonta)