MBABANE – In an effort that will boost food production in Eswatini, the Republic of Japan has donated 64 tractors worth E36 million to the country.
The donation come at a time when the farming season has started.
It is said the tractors will be distributed across the four regions of the country and will help boost government’s tractor hire service to farmers, particularly during the farming season.
Minister of Agriculture Jabulani Mabuza said these tractors have come at an opportune time when the whole world has just been involved in the UN Food Systems Summit to look at strategies to improve the efficiency of our food systems so as to improve the status of food security.
“Government is facing serious shortages of mechanised tillage equipment to provide services to farmers, particularly the smallholders who have limited resources to purchase their own equipment,” the minister said.
He said the role played by farmers in food production is highly significant.
“It is therefore my belief that these tractors will go a long way towards improving delivery of our tractor hire service being run by the National Maize Corporation,” he said.
