News

No funds were released for the provision of loans to smallholder farmers under the Komati Downstream Development Project (KDDP) area during the first quarter of the current financial year. The Ministry of Agriculture’s Quarterly Performance Report for the first quarter of the 2010/2011 financial year says this was despite the fact that several project proposals were expected to the approved during the period under review. It says a total of E40 000 donor funds had been set aside for the provision of loans for smallholder farmers under the KDDP area. "Nothing happened in the first quarter, in terms of fund releases, although it is expected that a few project proposals will be approved, which will see the funds being released to finance them," reads the report in part. It says project proposals for funding were yet to be submitted.

Meanwhile, the report also says a total of 4 290 hectares had been planted with sugar cane and other crops on the KDDP area.  "About 233 hectares was cultivated for sugar cane by the Ingcayizivele Farmers’ Association and a development of 140 hectares for Nhlambane and Vukutimele Farmers’ Associations was put under tender. A total of 126 hectares for Singeni and Ndinda Farmers’ Associations was approved by the European Union (EU) for funding under the National Adaptation Strategy (NAS)," reads the report in part. It says the development of 16 hectares for vegetable production was done under the Manzimyama Vegetable Development Project. An additional 24 hectares was planted with vegetables by other farmers’ associations.

It says some of the problems encountered included uncoordinated markets for the vegetables planted. Close to 300 hectares planted under LUSIP. A total of 281 hectares have been planted with sugar-cane under the Lower Usuthu Smallholder Irrigation Project (LUSIP) as at June 2010. According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Quarterly Performance Report for the first quarter of the 2010/2011 financial year, about 600 hectares of land had already been prepared and were ready for planting by the end of June. "The construction of Phase I (B) of the tertiary delivery system is still progressing and by the end of June, it was approximately 69 per cent complete. Business plans and irrigation designs for a total area of 960 hectares have been submitted to the European Union (EU) for funding under the National Adaptation Strategy (NAS).

A total of 281 hectares have been planted with sugar cane since January 2010. About 599 hectares have been land prepared but not yet planted," reads the report in part. It goes on to note that some of the problems encountered included the slow procurement process under the NAS, which has delayed the planting of 1 377 hectares. "Problems encountered included the heavy rainfall after January, which disrupted construction activities; the continued increase in farm development costs, as well as contractor capacity in irrigation installation and planting, which affected the area planted," reads the report in part. No external funding for livestock identification phase II

The delay in getting external funding for phase two of the National Livestock Identification has been a hindrance in sourcing international expertise in livestock identification and traceability system. According to the ministry’s Quarterly Performance Report for the first quarter of the 2010/2011 financial year, the ministry was still expecting external funding from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) for the project, adding that this delayed in securing training equipment and international expertise required for the project. About E2.9 million local funds have been allocated to implement a computerised registration database for the livestock identification and traceability project.

The report says a total of 6 327 cattle had been ear tagged as at June 30, 2010. "Ear tags for 339 dip tanks on Swazi Nation Land (SNL) out of the 508 dip tanks on SNL have been procured. Procurement of ear tags stands at 66.7 per cent of the total amount. Ear tagging has commenced and a total of seven dip tanks on SNL have been covered," reads the report in part. The ministry has already branded livestock across the country’s dip tanks with the country’s identity, as well as dip tank number. The report also says although project implementation was on going, there has been a delay in developing and completing related software packages required for the exercise.

"Software development by the Swaziland Government Computer Services is moving at a slow pace. About 11 sub-regional offices are in a dilapidated condition and have no electricity thus, cannot be networked. We implore the Government Computer Services to expedite software development and improve infrastructure conditions in the 11 sub-regional offices," reads the report in part. Branding livestock was one of the requirements put forward by the European Union (EU) after inspections that led to the ban on the country’s beef exports in January 2005. After meeting all the requirements put forward by the EU, including implementing the livestock branding exercise among other requirements, the ban was lifted in 2007.  Govt farms produce hay worth over E300 000

Over 7 700 hay bales worth about E306 000 have been produced at the Mpisi, Mlindazwe, Highveld and Gege government farms. According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Quarterly Performance Report for the first quarter of the 2010/2011 financial year, 25 hectares were ploughed on the participating government farms under the Promotion of Sustainable Feed and Fodder Production and Utilisation project. A total of E847 000 local funds had been set aside for establishing pastures, weed, cut and bale hay at Mpisi, Highveld, Gege, Kubuta, Mlindazwe and Nsalitje government ranches.

"The project enhanced the establishment of 23 hectares of pastures in the Mpisi, Highveld and Gege government farms. A total of 612 round hay bales valued at E91 800, and an additional 7 157 square hay bales valued at E214 710 were produced at Mpisi Mlindazwe, Highveld and Gege government farms. The ministry has developed guidelines for disposing hay bales to members of the public," reads the report in part. It also says the ministry had identified six more sites for pasture establishments. "Sites for pasture establishment have been identified at Matsanjeni (five hectares), KaLanga (10 hectares), Malindza (10 hectares), Nyalinyali (six hectares), Magwanyana (four hectares) and KaMkhweli (five hectares)," reads the report in part.

The report highlights that some of the problems encountered included delays in registering tractors procured for the implementation of the project. "The Central Transport Administration (CTA) delayed in registering tractors and trailers procured for the project but after lengthy persuasion, they finally complied. Further delays were experienced in recruiting casual labourers due to bickering between the Ministry of Public Service and the Civil Service Commission," reads the report in part. It says it was desirable that the recruitment of casual labourers is harmonised. It further says the ministry also needed to identify other sites for pasture establishment and hay harvesting or baling on Swazi Nation Land (SNL)