BY KWANELE TSABEDZE
MBABANE – 1600 more farmers are to benefit from the farm input subsidy programme.
This was revealed by Minister of Agriculture Jabulani Mabuza today when he announced the extension of payments for the farm inputs subsidy programme.
Speaking when making the announcement, Mabuza thanked all Eswatini Farmers who participated in the government input subsidy programme implemented by the National Maize Corporation ever since the programme was launched.
“A total of 10 088 payments were made. 9960 for maize, 125 for beans and 3 for Sorghum. After the programme was closed for this year, a lot of emaSwati flooded the ministry with request to reconsider the closing and find possible ways to accommodate such farmers,” said the minister.
He added that the ministry has been looking for resources to accommodate the farmers.
“It is in this regard that we announce that payments for the input subsidy is extended by only 1600 beneficiaries. Each farmer will only be allowed to pay for only 1Ha. Payments can only be done at Eswatini Bank. EFTs are not allowed,” said the minister.
Mabuza went on to reveal that the budgeted number of subsidized tractor hours is 55 500. Currently there are 43 600 hours paid and the balance is 11 900 hours. This means that when this balance is exhausted, farmers would be expected to pay the full price of E480 for tractor services, as opposed to the rate which is subsidised by Government.
“Let me take this opportunity to thank you once again and encourage farmers to take advantage of the extension and pay immediately to avoid being left out for both inputs and tractor hours,” said the minister.
This year, Government increased their contribution towards farming inputs subsidisations. The farmer is expected to contribute 35% and Government contributes the balance of 65%. In addition, the upper limit of how much farmers can cultivate was increased from 1 hectare to 3 hectares.
The program has proven to be very effective over the years, as maize yield has gone from 86 000 metric tonnes to 127 000 metric tonnes in three years, according to the Minister of Agriculture.
