Swaziland to develop agro-processing areas

Specific areas have been identified by the ministry of enterprise and employment with the aim of developing agro-processing opportunities in Swaziland. The ministry is targeting development of the sites as a way of realising value adding on goods produced in Swaziland.

The proposed projects cover diverse agricultural commodities, including bio-technological plants, manufacturing of starch and ethanol using cassava and the manufacturing of biofuels.

Some of the proposed projects for development include the Rhodes Food Group, which will establish a factory in Marlkens. It will process a variety of products including beans, butternuts, beans, sweet corn, peas and tomatoes. The investment has the potential to create 250 jobs at the factory and 2,300 other jobs on the farming side of the project.

Another will be a cassava project located at Madlangempisi which will be commissioned next month. When fully functional, it will total E180 million ($25 million) worth of investment. Over 2,500 hectares will be under an outgrower programme meant to benefit farmers from the surrounding communities. Markets for the starch have already been secured in South Africa and the EU. The 10,000 hectares of land that will be developed for the cassava/ethanol project will generate an estimated 16,000 jobs.

Another project that will utilise aloe plants that grow naturally in various communities. A South African technology partner has shown interest in investing in the project. Possible products to come out of this project include gel powder, aloe gel, aloe juice and gel powder concentrates. It is reported that all the products have a great potential for export.

Swazi Observer