The Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE) has announced that it will not onboard new farmers into the Hamba Ubuye Revolving Fund during the 2026/27 farming season. This decision was made due to financial limitations, according to EWADE Communications Manager Nokwazi Hlophe. The Hamba Ubuye Commercial Maize Project has been supporting smallholder farmers across Eswatini's four regions, providing them with the necessary resources to increase maize production and improve household livelihoods.
During the 2024/25 season, the Hamba Ubuye Commercial Maize Project supported 206 smallholder farmers, including 160 men, 46 women, and 20 youth. These farmers harvested 3,813.06 metric tonnes of maize, of which 3,530.17 metric tonnes were sold. The program has continued to grow, with EWADE's Commercial Maize Project supporting 191 farmers cultivating 1,424 hectares across Eswatini in the current season. Despite challenging weather conditions, farmers have so far harvested 1,291 hectares.
The Hamba Ubuye program has made significant progress since its inception, growing from supporting 17 farmers cultivating 172 hectares to nearly 200 farmers farming over 1,400 hectares. This expansion reflects the fund's success as an agricultural production and household-income support mechanism. However, EWADE's limited budget will constrain the fund's reach during the 2026/27 season, with no new farmers being admitted.
Returning farmers will be considered for support subject to the availability of funds, applicable fund policies, and their repayment performance. EWADE has appealed to farmers with outstanding loans to settle their obligations, commending those who have maintained good repayment records. Timely repayment is critical to sustaining the Revolving Fund and enabling continued support to farmers.
The funding constraints coincide with concerns over potentially dry conditions associated with El Niño. EWADE has urged farmers to strengthen climate-smart farming and water conservation measures to protect their production against possible water shortages and prolonged dry spells. Farmers are encouraged to conserve available water resources, improve soil moisture management, and adopt production practices that can reduce the impact of dry spells and water shortages.
Despite the funding limitations, EWADE's continued growth of the Hamba Ubuye program demonstrates the potential of structured agricultural financing to expand smallholder production, strengthen household incomes, and contribute to national food sovereignty. The program's success highlights the importance of initiatives that support smallholder farmers in Eswatini.
Farmers requiring further information have been advised to contact their respective EWADE Cluster Managers or visit EWADE offices. The enterprise remains committed to supporting farmers and promoting agricultural development in Eswatini. Key stakeholders will be monitoring the situation closely, as the country's agricultural sector continues to navigate challenges and opportunities.
Key points
- EWADE pauses new farmer intake into Hamba Ubuye due to budget constraints
- The Hamba Ubuye program has supported over 200 smallholder farmers in Eswatini
- EWADE urges farmers to adopt climate-smart farming and water conservation measures amid El Niño concerns
