MBABANE – The projected food shortage has provided a rare opportunity to local farmers following that they have since been invited to register with NAMBoard in order to supply retail shops countrywide.
According to Melusi Zox Dlamini, NAMBoard Communication Officer, the National Agricultural Marketing Board is intensifying its local sourcing programme by inviting all non-contracted farmers producing Tomato, Green Pepper, Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Spinach and Lettuce to register their production schedules on the Eswatini Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS).
NAMBoard is the Kingdom of Eswatini’s National Agricultural Marketing Board enabled by Act No. 13 of 1985 and mandated with facilitating markets for farmers and assisting them with production, processing, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of schedule products. NAMBoard is also responsible for registering wholesale distributors, importers and exporters of scheduled products as well as advising Government on availability and demand of scheduled products.
Dlamini said farmers are encouraged to register and upload information regarding plantings, location, forecast harvesting yields and dates.
He said this will enable NAMBoard to measure the supply and demand of these commodities according to the requirements of the local market.
“We monitor the local trade of agricultural produce to ensure that the country has enough food security, and local farmers have adequate market share for their produce. By registering and uploading their information, the farmer also assists NAMBoard with gathering the key evidence needed to control importation of those commodities which are projected to be in over-supply locally as we build an inclusive, sustainable and competitive value chain. Through our continued engagement with all market players, which include retail shops and farmers, we have realised that some producers are still not linked to the formalised and diverse value chain as they haven’t yet subscribed to AMIS,” he said.
Dlamini disclosed that with the support from the other value chain stages such as the supply of high-quality seedlings, improved extension services support and the diversification of commodity lines, local sourcing programme has continued to show positive feedback and growth.
He said the commitment of markets to support local farmers and distributors has enabled the value chains for local produce to be sustainable for business.
Farmers, he said, are also growing in scale and in capacity to produce quality products in required market specifications. He said this initiative is gradually growing local capacity to replace imported produce.
“At NAMBoard we believe that one of the most critical areas that the country has to make substantial investment in, is strengthening food security and nutrition. We want to see more produce coming directly from local farmers onto the shelves of retail shops and restaurants. We are applying all strategic interventions to move produce to the local markets and advising our stakeholders to intensify their sourcing of these produce lines from local farmers. We have been entrusted with a significant responsibility of growing an industry that has the ability to unlock financial benefits and wealth creation for local farmers and stakeholders. Our primary mandate is to facilitate access to markets for local farmers and amongst our flagship initiatives has been import substitution,” he said.
Dlamini said AMIS remains the hub for important Agribusiness information in the country.
“In line with our mandate, NAMBoard, endeavours at all times to promote locally produced products in order to enhance the livelihoods of the local farmers. The AMIS website is aimed at supporting farmers with critical market-related information for decision making purposes. It brings under one umbrella all intelligence relating to the demand and supply of fresh produce and animal products. It also gives buyers an overview of what is available in terms of projected produce and guides farmers on what is already in over supply or in high demand,” he said.
Dlamini has further stated that NAMBoard is committed to growing the agri-business industry in Eswatini, and believe that all stakeholders have a role in ensuring that quality products are delivered to consumers. He said through Local Sourcing Program; NAMBoard is working with all the market players to increase the purchase of local produce in their basket of vegetables.
“This creates a good opportunity for farmers to compare, contrast and sign agreements that will suit them best for the sale of agreed produce or animal products. This approach gives farmers the comfort of knowing that there is a buyer who is ready to receive what they supply, fresh and on time, for resale to the public. It also avoids instances where farmers find themselves producing outside the demand schedule with no willing buyer due to oversupply,” he said.
The AMIS Web Portal can be accessed at www.amis.co.sz and farmers requesting any further information may contact our Senior Market Extension Officer Sanele Mvubu direct on 79278303.
Good work Namboard