Perspectives on Agricultural Commercialization and Food Security in Swaziland

1. Perspectives on Agricultural Commercialization and Food Security in Swaziland Miriam Coe

2. Sustainable development The term “Sustainable” development is frequently being included in agricultural policy now. But what meaning does it hold in the context of commercialization? Food security Securing a diverse and constant supply of food is a struggle for many people in Southern Africa. Subsistence Maize and other crops grown for one’s own homestead is heavily relied on in Swaziland. This sets the country apart from its developed counterparts who fund much of the development. Debate over commercialization Most significant international powers believe that commercialization is the solution to poverty and food insecurity in developing countries

3. Food Insecurity Stats Global • < 1 million people “undernourished”4 • ¼ live in Sub-Saharan Africa4 • Global levels of undernourishment 4 • Undernourishment in Sub-Saharan Africa 4 Swaziland • 150,000 Swazis faced chronic food insecurity in 2012 1 • Maize = 94% of the country’s cereal production in 2012 3 • 66% of the estimated gross requirement of maize was produced domestically in 2012 3 • Homesteads produce more of their own food as wealth increases 2 1. Swaziland State of Environment Report. (2012) 2. Swaziland Vulnerability Report. (2007) 3. Swaziland Vulnerability Report. (2012) 4. FAO “Hunger Portal,” http://www.fao.org/hunger/en/

4. Commercialization in Agriculture • UN and FAO promote commercialization • Recent goals highlight need for investment in small farms • Swazi Gov. advocated for self-sufficiency until about 1999, when commercialization became the primary goal of development

5. Research Question What are the benefits and disadvantages of agricultural commercialization in Swaziland, as compared to a focus on self-sufficiency?

6. Methodology • Background: • Online research and literature review prior to visiting Swaziland • Research in Swaziland: • Talk to Swazis about subsistence, maize production, and commercial agriculture • Gather food security and agricultural reports, articles, and data • Analysis: • Compile and analyze reports and data • Connect and compare perspectives of farmers and Swazis to previous research and plans for the future

7. Prevalence of Undernourishment in Swaziland

9. Percentage of Population

10. Source: Swaziland Vulnerability Assessment Food Balance Sheets

11. Source: Swaziland Vulnerability Assessment Food Balance Sheets

12. Land Use SNL Contolled by Chiefs, Communal Controlled by Chiefs, Noncommunal TDL Leased to companies/individuals Title Deed Land, Rural Title Deed Land, Urban Other ~ 25% TDL~ 65% SNL

13. Irrigation Projects • Malkerns- lower Lusushwana • Komati Downstream Development Project- Maguga Dam • Lower Usuthu Smallholder Irrigation Project • Irrigation to RSSC estate • Lower Mbuluzi catchment • Lower Ngwavumacatchment

14. Results: Survey of Smallholder Sugarcane Farmers Irrigation: • 40% experienced pump failure • 21% experienced burst pipes • “Harvest groups” share resources and contractors to fix irrigation systems Finances: • Those who hired professional managers did not have greater yields • 38% had fully paid back loans • 36.5% of loans were not reducing Chemical Use: • 75% of sugarcane farmers chemically ripen cane

15. Results: Farmer Interviews • Inability to expand due to RSSC demands or limited land • Finding a balance in chemical use and irrigation (no demand for organic, inputs are expensive) • Making enough profit to establish a brand • Soil degradation

16. Results: Subsistence Setbacks (From the Environmental Health Assessment) • Lack of water • Difficulty of finding suitable contractors/developers, even when money is not an issue • Empty promises of improvement Maize stalks in winter

17. Results: Government Strategies • Commercialization is prioritized, especially on SNL • Strategies for both small and large scale farms are being included • Research encouraged in private sector • Water and land used efficiently • Labor over capital

18. Results: Improvement? Food security did not improve after policy shift toward commercial development. Prevalence of Undernourishment

19. Discussion: Disconnects between needs and actions “Agriculture productivity on SNL is far below its potential.“ ~Poverty Reduction Strategy Report Most agricultural development going to commercial sugarcane farming Labor over capital: commercialization+, subsistence –

20. Discussion: The Future of Agriculture Was enough effort given to improving subsistence and encouraging self-sufficiency before it was abandoned for commercial agriculture? Is there a better way to improve both subsistence and commercial agriculture?

21. Acknowledgements This project would not have been possible without the help of a few key people who provided me with resources, personal perspectives, and academic assistance. • Dr. Jim Proctor • Acacia Bhembe • Ms. Olga Tsabedze • Mr. Sholto Thorne • Mr. Boniface Dlamini • All Out Africa • Swaziland Environment Authority • FAO Swaziland • And thanks to you all for listening!

22. Resources • Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. (2013). “Hunger Portal.” Accessed June 17th, 2013. http://www.fao.org/hunger/en/ • Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. (2013). Food Security Indicators. Accessed June 17th, 2013. http://bit.ly/14FRxGV • Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, Swaziland. (1999). The National Development Strategy. Mbabane, Swaziland. • Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. (2006). Poverty Reduction Strategy and Action Program. Vol. 1 and 2. Mbabane, Swaziland. • Nkambule, G. (2009). “Baseline Study Report (Individual Growers).” Restructuring and Diversification Management Unit of the National Adaptation Strategy to the EU Sugar Reform, Swaziland. • Swaziland Environment Authority. (2012). Swaziland Environment Action Plan. Retrieved June 16, 2013. http://www.sea.org.sz/categories.asp?cid=4 • Swaziland Environment Authority. (2012). Swaziland State of Environment Report. Mbabane, Swaziland. Retrieved June 2, 2013. www.environment.gov.sz/files/soer.pdf‎ • Swaziland Vulnerability Assessment Committee. (2008). Annual vulnerability assessment & analysis report 2008. Mbabane, Swaziland: Swaziland Vulnerability Assessment Committee. • Terry, A., and Matthew Ryder. (2007). “Improving Food Security in Swaziland: The Transition from Subsistence to Communally Managed Cash Cropping.” Natural Resources Forum 31 (4): 263–272. doi:10.1111/j.1477-8947.2007.00161.x.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1477-8947.2007.00161.x/abstract.