The National Maize Corporation (NMC) marked a major milestone on Thursday as it celebrated its 40th anniversary and the tenth edition of the Farmers Awards, distributing a total of E292,500 to the country’s leading grain producers.
The high-profile ceremony, held at Esibayeni Lodge in Matsapha, recognised the exceptional performance of farmers who have driven growth in Eswatini’s staple crop production.
Johnson Sibonginkhosi (32) emerged as the Top Maize Farmer, claiming first place and E40,000 worth of farming inputs after delivering a net mass of 258.08 metric tons (MT), the highest in the country. His win headlined a strong season in which the Top 10 farmers collectively improved their output by 28%, producing a combined 1172.6 MT of maize.
Second place went to Dlamini Mgucisi, who supplied 130.64 MT, while Mkhaliphi Maphephetse took third position with 124.22 MT. NMC CEO, Mavela Vilane, described the achievements as a celebration of “excellence, resilience and progress” built over “four decades of partnership with Eswatini’s farmers.”
The awards also highlighted key improvements in local food production despite persistent challenges, including rising input costs linked to global conflicts, climate variability, and post-pandemic recovery.
Local maize purchases increased significantly from 5,550.3 MT (1,259 farmers) last season to 7,970 MT (1,745 farmers) this year.
Bean production also experienced exceptional growth, rising from 94.79 MT supplied by 23 farmers to 352.884 MT from 121 farmers.
However, NMC warned that Eswatini remains far from self-sufficiency. The country produces around 75,000 MT of maize annually, well below the national requirement of 140,000 MT. The deficit, Vilane noted, continues to be covered by costly imports that drain the local economy.
The Corporation also honoured several farmers and agribusinesses for outstanding achievements across additional categories:
• Top Bean Farmer, sponsored by Khuba Traders
• Top Maize Producer, sponsored by Terrafetz Eswatini
• Woman Farmer – Highest Productivity (Maize):
• Youth Farmer – Highest Productivity (Maize)
• Most Consistent Farmer: Dlamini Mgucisi, recognised for maintaining a Top 10 position for all ten years of the awards and never placing outside the top three host farmers.
Speaking during the ceremony, Johnson credited the Hamba Ubuye Commercial Maize Project, a revolving fund under EWADE, for giving him the financial boost that expanded his production capacity. Reflecting on his journey, he acknowledged the significant challenges he had faced.
“Maize farming is the toughest business I have ever taken on,” he said, adding that his success is rooted in discipline, resilience and an unwavering commitment to feeding the nation.
Vilane urged farmers to prioritise early preparation as the ploughing season begins. The Corporation encouraged producers to secure inputs on time, make use of NMC’s services, and work closely with agricultural extension officers.
“Time is of the essence,” Vilane emphasised, calling for stronger collaboration to achieve national food sovereignty. The organisation stressed that increasing agricultural output is a “shared responsibility” critical to reducing dependence on imports.