The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Government of Eswatini and the National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBOARD), is supporting smallholder farmers to adopt climate-smart horticulture solutions that improve food security, strengthen resilience, and create economic opportunities in rural communities. The initiative equips farmers with protected cultivation technologies, including tunnels and greenhouses, enabling them to mitigate the effects of erratic weather and climate-related shocks while sustainably increasing production.
Smallholder farmers are central to Eswatini’s food systems, yet many face declining yields due to climate change impacts such as irregular rainfall and hailstorms. To safeguard livelihoods and nutrition, FAO and government partners are promoting nature-based horticulture solutions that enhance productivity and encourage market-oriented farming. Traditional subsistence practices are increasingly unable to meet food and income needs, making climate-resilient methods and improved access to markets particularly important, especially for women and youth-led farmer groups.
Under the programme, 320 smallholder farmers, including youth groups with 75 percent women, received technical training in climate-smart horticulture practices. This included the construction of eight protected cultivation tunnels, installation of drip irrigation systems, and guidance on greenhouse management. NAMBOARD strengthened farmer linkages to reliable markets through extension support and contract farming arrangements, helping ensure fair pricing and access to buyers.
The Manga Manga Multipurpose Cooperative in Nkhaba exemplifies the project’s success. With ten members, 70 percent of whom are women, the cooperative cultivated tomatoes and green peppers on 2,000 m² of greenhouse space, producing 1,000 tomatoes and 2,000 peppers. The group anticipates a return of USD 5,000, demonstrating the commercial viability of protected horticulture in rural Eswatini.
The initiative has established a strong foundation for expansion, with 70 percent of participating farmer groups now registered cooperatives and many linked to NAMBOARD for guaranteed markets. FAO and partners plan to scale the model through policy incentives, private sector engagement, and increased access to financing for protected cultivation structures. Integration into national climate adaptation strategies and continued technical support will enable replication across rural communities.
By investing in nature-based solutions and empowering women and youth, Eswatini is positioning itself as a regional leader in climate-resilient horticulture and sustainable agrifood systems transformation.
