Project Description:

The High Value Crop and Horticulture Project (HVCHP) seeks to increase the contribution of the agricultural sector to poverty reduction in Swaziland by creating pro-poor growth, securing livelihoods of small holder farmers by providing them marketing opportunities and providing locally produced diversified food on the market.

The project will build on the established mandates and capacities of the Swaziland Water & Agricultural Development Enterprise (SWADE) (facilitation of farmer structuration around irrigation schemes, downstream irrigation schemes development and small and medium enterprise development in agriculture, extension services) and the National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBOARD) (facilitation of trade, transport and storage) drawing on complementarities of both institutions in order to create functional agriculture markets and a competitive and innovative private sector that is critical for agriculture growth.

The overall objective is to contribute to the reduction of poverty by creating pro-poor growth, securing livelihoods of small holder farmers and providing locally produced diversified food on the market.

This will be achieved through the establishment of a market information system, installation of cold stores at three existing national markets (Mbabane, Manzini and Mahlanya), mobilization of target communities to form chiefdom development plans (CDPs) organized and formal farming companies (FCs), preparation of designs for the construction of zone hub centers.

Goal:

The overall goal of the project is to contribute to the reduction of poverty by creating pro-poor growth, securing livelihoods of small holder farmers and providing locally produced diversified food on the market.

Purpose:

The purpose of the project is to support high impact commodity chains with a focus on horticulture through strengthening of market finding, production planning, production, packing and collection of products.

Project Area:

Project operations are nationwide. The MoA will provide oversight from the MoA headquarters in Mbabane and extension services from the regions as appropriate. NAMBOARD’s head office is currently in Manzini and any TA assigned will work from the head office and at the project locations as appropriate

For components 2 the project operations and activities will take place in the LUSIP I area. The project will be managed from the Siphofaneni offices of SWADE in Lubombo Region. The SWADE project team and TA will be based at and operate from those offices.   

For component 3, the project will concentrate largely on areas identified as pack-house hubs. Potential locations are in the Lavumisa area, the around Nhlangano, and the Msahweni area in the North.

Target Group:

The Project will benefit households both within the LUSIP I PDA and those within the identified packhouse hub zones. In addition to this group of beneficiaries, other households will derive in-direct benefits through employment and ancillary enterprise opportunities arising from an expansion of economic activity in the project area.

Expected Outputs

Result 1: National, regional and international markets identified and being supplied with high quality produce

Result 2: Land developed and farmer companies strengthened to profitably produce a range of high value commodities in the LUSIP I area.

Result 3: Pack-house hub-based zones developed.

The original text can be found here: HVCHP