Taipei experts coming for tropical fruits study
11 November, 2013
EXPERTS from Taipei will later this month come to Swaziland to conduct a feasibility study for tropical fruits.
Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Thomas Chen said this would not only help the country’s agricultural sector if findings are positive but also promote pragmatic relationships between the two countries.
“I am looking forward to their arrival, this will also enhance our relationships. Taiwan will send the experts so as to improve production in agriculture,” he said during the 2013 Swazi/Taiwan technical partnership winter season sweet potato production field day held at Luyengo Royal kraal.
He said the sweet potato project by the Luyengo farmers was an impressive one, it showed that Swazis believed so much in agriculture. Chen said agriculture was important in nation development and individual’s survival.
Adding, the ambassador said he was fascinated by the country’s ministry of agriculture as it was established around 1968 and that was where Taiwan started relations with Swaziland.
Meanwhile, Luyengo Chief Lembelele thanked the Republic of China (Taiwan) for assisting his populace with the sweet potato project. He said agriculture in that area was changing the lives of many.
Farmers must use private tractors as well - minister
MINISTER of Agriculture Moses Vilakati says farmers in the country must also use private tractors as the ones for government will not help everyone.
He said if farmers relied heavily or waited for the government tractors they would miss the rains and this would significantly affect their produce at the end of the season.
“Government, through the ministry of agriculture, has about 140 tractors envisaged at helping farmers but these are not enough, they cannot help everyone. The ministry, therefore, urges farmers to also use private tractors so that they seize the rains,” he said.
The minister was speaking during the 2013 Swazi/Taiwan technical partnership winter season sweet potato production field day held at Luyengo Royal kraal.
Vilakati urged farmers to use soils intensively and maximise on their production. Vilakati said maximisation on production would not only helps Swaziland have enough food but would also assists farmers export produce and get extra revenue. He said as government was the cornerstone of almost every country, Swaziland must also intensify in this sector so as to attain first world status. The minister said with the Sikhuphe International Airport (SIA) to open soon, it also had a harbour for agricultural products to overseas. Vilakati said farmers must also continue seeking and asking for help either from the ministry or relevant institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). He said farmers must be careful though when producing for overseas markets as these were reluctant on crops produced with the help of fertiliser. The minister said the market preferred organic and this was where farmers could get high return on their produce sold.
Meanwhile, Principal Secretary in the ministry of agriculture Robert Thwala said the appointment of Vilakati came at a time when there was desperation at the ministry.
He said the minister was very keen on agriculture and this was evidenced as he was working for the Swaziland Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (SWADE). Thwala said they were excited at the ministry that a person of Vilakati’s calibre had joined them and would head it. Adding, the PS said the ministry wanted to transform Swaziland's agricultural production system from its prevailing subsistence mode to more commercially oriented production systems through commercialisation and the diversification.
Thwala said this was done in small and medium holder Swazi Nation Land (SNL) and Title Deed Land (TDL) agricultural production. He said this would help achieve and maintain an efficient and sustainable agricultural sector that would ensure national and household food security and a sustainable growth of Swaziland’s agriculture and national economy with equitable wealth distribution throughout the value chain.
20 Luyengo residents part of Taiwan sweet potato project
ABOUT 20 residents of Luyengo are members of the sweet potato project assisted by the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Luyengo Sweet Potato Association Chairman William Magagula said the technical mission from Taiwan assisted them with knowledge as well as farm inputs. He said they were indebted to Taiwan for such assistance adding that the project helped them get revenue despite being in the rural areas. Magagula said the country would develop if there would be collaboration between rural and urban people.
The chairman said the association boasted 20 members and more people had registered to be part of it. However, Magagula said they were faced with water challenges as it was diverted to sugarcane fields.
He decried the fact that sugarcane was replacing other crops as it had high returns.
