YOU CAN BE YOUR OWN BOSS THROUGH GRAIN PRODUCTION

WITH NOKWANDA DLAMINI-MASUKU

For decades now, agriculture has been linked with the production of essential food crops. Currently, agriculture is the leading industry in Swaziland and maize is the widely grown crop on Swazi Nation land mainly for subsistence.

Maize is a staple food for most countries in the SADC Region and it remains important for achieving food security in Southern Africa. In the agricultural economy, maize is one of the most important cereal crops in the world for human consumption, animal feed and other industrial raw material requirements. It is, in fact, one of the world’s leading crops with an estimated 637 million tonnes produced annually.

In Swaziland, it is the staple food of the Swazi nation and is the most widely produced agricultural product in the country. Even subsistence farmers grow maize more than any other crop; so much so, that agricultural marketing is dominated by maize marketing amongst small scale farm holders. It accounts for an average of 36% of all caloric intake in the region and the predominance of the crop in farming systems basically suggests that yield gains have the potential to kick-start a major improvement in nutritional value. Agriculture basically plays an important role in the entire life of a given economy as it is the backbone of an economic system of a country and in addition to providing food agriculture also provides employment to a large percentage of the Swazi population.

This therefore, should communicate to the public that there is a need for farmers and potential farmers alike to take advantage of the hectares and hectares of arable land that Swaziland has, so as to reap optimum benefits from this booming industry.

Now that the rains have come, it is up to us as a people to put all we can towards farming, particularly maize production, so that Swaziland can be able to produce enough maize to sustain herself. It is not going to be easy. Even when it rains, there will always be other challenges lurking and waiting to pounce on us but we should never allow ourselves to stop trying. “The power lies within us” says CEO, Mr. Sabelo Msibi.

With good farming practices, cooperative and doubled efforts as well as Government’s input subsidies, local farmers can certainly increase their yields this season. The persistent drought had negatively affected crop production not just in Swaziland but in the entire SADC Region, hence this year we should be taking advantage of the good weather patterns.

Viability of Maize Grain in Swaziland

In Swaziland, maize production is viable since a farmer can earn a profit of E12, 094 per hectare when proper management practices and other factors such as good weather conditions are constant. Farmers are encouraged to produce maize at a larger scale and in suitable agro-ecological zones.

Even though Swaziland is still unable to produce enough maize to meet the country’s demand; hence farmers are encouraged to engage in maize production as the market is still very receptive to this. This coupled with the promotional price of E4000.00/tonne from the National Maize Corporation (NMC)with which NMC buys from farmers has the potential to increase one’s profits magnificently.

Viability of Dry Beans in Swaziland

The production of dry beans in Swaziland is viable since a farmer can earn a profit of E12, 499.60 per hectare; according to the GROSS MARGINS FOR FIELD CROPS IN SWAZILAND, 2016 booklet. However, this can only be so when proper management practices and other factors such as drought are constant. It is advisable though that beans production be done on large scale in order to obtain significant profits. National Maize Corporation also buys these beans from farmers.

For more information on how one can take advantage of grain production in Swaziland, readers are encourage to contact NMC’s Farmer Development Officers or the Marketing Department who are always available to help with information.

Wishing you all a very productive week.