By Phiwa Sikhondze
In a significant development for Eswatini’s agricultural sector, the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE) and Nisela Farms have officially entered into a partnership designed to bolster the country’s banana value chain.
The two entities formalized their collaboration today by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a critical step under EWADE’s Lower Usuthu Smallholder Irrigation Project Phase II (LUSIP II).
The MoU was signed by EWADE CEO, Dr. Samson Sithole, and Nisela Farms Managing Director, Jan Hendrik Botha, during a ceremony that underscored the importance of this partnership in advancing sustainable agricultural practices in Eswatini.
“This partnership aligns seamlessly with EWADE’s strategic vision, particularly under our LUSIP II project,” said Dr. Sithole during the signing ceremony. “Our strategy from LUSIP II is to ensure that each value chain has a robust and reliable private partner to anchor sustainability. We have identified Nisela Farms as a strong partner capable of driving the sustainability of the 500-hectare banana value chain.”
The collaboration between EWADE and Nisela Farms is not new; it dates back to the implementation of LUSIP I’s diversification program, which ran from 2013 to 2018. Over the years, Nisela Farms has been instrumental in supporting the operationalization of the banana pack house managed by Lusutfu ne Lubovane Luyasondla Fresh Produce, known as “LnL.”
Nisela Farms’ contributions have exceeded expectations, particularly in training farm supervisors on banana production, equipping packhouse staff with skills in grading and packing bananas, and facilitating access to export markets. Their efforts have played a crucial role in ensuring that high-quality produce reaches markets, especially in Johannesburg.
The nearly completed LUSIP II packhouse, with a capacity to handle 32 tons of banana produce and support approximately 100 hectares of banana cultivation, is a testament to the deepening collaboration between EWADE and Nisela Farms.
This new facility is expected to significantly enhance farmers’ ability to efficiently access various markets, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the banana value chain in Eswatini.
Dr. Sithole also highlighted the technical and infrastructural support provided by Nisela Farms under LUSIP II. “Nisela Farms has continued to provide technical support through formal meetings with our agricultural and engineering teams. They have offered valuable advice on improving infrastructural designs, including in-field, packhouses, and biosecurity measures,” he noted.
In addition, Nisela Farms has been instrumental in facilitating market access by introducing LUSIP II Farmer Companies (FCs) to their established markets. They are also assisting farmers in developing their marketing brands, offering themselves as a market until the FCs are fully established.
Jan Hendrik Botha, Managing Director of Nisela Farms, expressed his gratitude for the partnership and emphasized the value of collaboration.
“We, from the Nisela side, are humbled by the recognition from EWADE management. We are also very proud to collaborate with a prestigious parastatal like EWADE, which is growing the company hectare by hectare. This partnership is a testament to the value the private sector can add to the communities around us, and to the growth of the communities and the strengthening of the emaSwati on the ground,” he said.
Botha also acknowledged the vital role of the communities in Nisela Farms’ growth and success stating, “Without the communities growing, Nisela can’t grow. Without Nisela growing, the communities can’t grow. This partnership represents a sustainable working collaboration between Nisela Farms and EWADE that will ultimately benefit both entities and the broader Eswatini community.”