EU SUPPORT HELPS IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF RURAL SWAZIS, STUDY REVEALS EU support to the sugar industry in Swaziland is making a significant impact in the lives of smallholder sugarcane farmers and their communities in the countrys sugar belt. A recent study by the Swaziland Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (SWADE) into the livelihood of smallholder sugarcane farmers and their families in the east and north of Swaziland has statistically revealed a positive change in the quality of life of these farmers and their dependants as a result of the EU support. These farmers who were previously in abject poverty due to high rate unemployment are now able to put food on the table for their families and live a decent life. The good news was relayed to EU Ambassador, Nicola Bellomo, during his two-day familiarization tour of the sugar industry where the EU has provided up to € 120 million (approx. E1.2 billion) under the Sugar Accompanying Measures for Sugar Protocol countries including Swaziland. The visit took place on 27 – 28 October 2014. The EU support enables the smallholder farmers to embark on sugarcane farming thereby generating the much needed household incomes as well as creating job opportunities not only for themselves but also members of their communities. In addition to providing direct financial support to the sugar industry the EU also buys 55 percent of the sugar produced in Swaziland. During the tour, Ambassador Bellomo was told that key impact indicators of the EU support include increased average household income per month for the smallholder farmers, which has increased by 33.1 percent whilst the median household income per month has increased by 122.2 percent. As a result of these increases in income the farmers have gone on to improve their household assets. As a result, modern housing in most communities increased significantly by 1 583.7 percent. Not only that, access to clean water and sanitation has also increased drastically. To that end, unemployment decreased by more than 30 percent. Ambassador Bellomo was very pleased that EU support was contributing significantly to poverty alleviation in Swaziland, which was the main target, and was yielding such good results. He said this demonstrated that the EU was a key development partner for Swaziland and was keen to see the country moving forward. During the tour, the Ambassador also got the opportunity to meet and interact with the farmers themselves who also confirmed that their lives were no longer the same and have changed for the better as a result of the EU support. The farmers expressed their great appreciation to the EU for the support and said for them poverty was now a thing of the past. With the proceeds from sugar, some farmers have even diversified their crops to generate more income whilst others have expanded their businesses to commercial title deed land in nearby towns and cities where they own real estate. The Ambassadors tour began at Siphofaneni, east of Swaziland, where, after a briefing by SWADE, he toured Mganyaneni Farmers Association, one of the smallholder associations established with funding from the EU. This association has grown leaps and bounds and is now one of the model smallholder sugarcane projects in the sugar belt. This association has declared dividends to its shareholders since 2013 and has further used part of the profit to build state-of-the-art offices in the area. All the members of the association were very thankful to the EU for its support which they said has contributed significantly to the improvement in their lives. Ambassador Bellomo congratulated the Mganyaneni farmers for their progress and said theirs was indeed a huge success story. He encouraged them to continue to expand their business for sustainability. The Ambassador later proceeded to Ubombo Sugar in Big Bend where he toured the Ubombo Sugar Mill before heading north to Simunye for a similar tour. After an overnight stay in Simunye, the Ambassador made his last stop in Dvokolwako, also in the north, where he familiarized himself with Phinduvele Farmers Association, another smallholder sugarcane association which received funding from the EU. This association has also made significant strides in its operations which have positively benefitted its members. The Ambassador noted that his trip was a huge success and was pleased to see that EU contribution in Swaziland, in particular the sugar sector, was producing tangible results on the ground. He then thanked the Swaziland Sugar Association for organizing the trip and putting together a fruitful programme.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 13:54:27 +0000
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