By 
By Delisa Magagula
The Ministry of Agriculture has announced a breakthrough initiative to address Eswatini’s long-standing shortage of tractors, with the government securing a E250 million loan from the United States of America to supply farmers with 250 tractors and their implements over the next five years.
Minister of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka revealed the initiative during a meeting with the National Maize Corporation (NMC) and the House of Assembly Agriculture Portfolio Committee in Pigg’s Peak.
He explained that 50 tractors will be delivered each year, beginning this farming season, with the first batch already on its way.
“It is not a loan to the country but to the ministry, and it will not be in the form of cash. The loan comes in the form of tractors and their implements, which will then be handed over to farmers who subcontract under the NMC,” Tshawuka said.
He explained that the Eswatini Agricultural Development Fund will contribute 15 per cent of the cost; Eswatini Bank will finance 75 per cent, while farmers purchasing tractors will provide the remaining 10 per cent.
The tractors will be available under a subsidised scheme. The government will cover E180 of the hourly fee while farmers pay E400 for every hour of service, a measure aimed at ensuring affordability while enabling timely ploughing.
The minister said the shortage of tractors has historically resulted in delays during the ploughing season, which compromised yields as soil moisture dried up before planting.
“This programme will help ensure fields are ploughed on time and that food security is improved across the country,” he said.
Ten of the first 50 tractors will be purchased directly by the NMC and stationed at strategic depots across the country, particularly in areas with high farming activity for beans and maize.
NMC Chief Executive Officer Mavela Vilane welcomed the development, noting that insufficient access to tractors has been a recurring obstacle for farmers.
“This initiative will empower farmers while reducing the strain of seasonal subcontracting.
The tractors will be made available on three- to five-year subcontract terms, giving farmers time to repay their obligations,” Vilane explained.
Chairperson of the Agriculture Portfolio Committee, Dr Bonginkhosi Dlamini, praised the initiative and expressed hope that the delivery of 250 tractors would help the country move closer to food sovereignty.
Background information shows that Eswatini has been grappling with machinery shortages for decades, with the number of available tractors far below national demand.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, less than 400 tractors are currently operational in the country, against an estimated national requirement of over 1,000 units to adequately service farming needs.
The E250 million, officials say will begin reversing this deficit, improving yields of maize, sorghum, and beans, which are the country’s primary staple crops.
