The Swaziland Environment Action Plan (SEAP)

RECOMMENDED POLICY AND STRATEGY FRAMEWORK

1.5 CROP PRODUCTION

This policy is to deal with the production of crops, subject to the recommendations of the RLEP & ALUP. It pays attention to both commercial and subsistence farming, with special reference to smallholder development.

ISSUES SUMMARY

Low crop production levels.
Low level and disparity of food and nutrition security.
Lack of crop diversification.
Crops grown in areas where conditions are not suitable.
Emphasis on monocropping in both subsistence and commercial farming.
Present pricing and marketing policies discourage commercial high value crop production.
Lack of capital and credit facilities for agricultural investment.
Seed production and availability.
Inadequate storage, transport, distribution and marketing systems.
Agricultural extension service not crop and zonation specific.

SUMMARY POLICY PROPOSALS

Crop production policy follows the objectives and policies as defined at the ALUP level. Food production is tied to the food security policy, which has to be defined in terms of crop selection and priorities.

Status of Policy

Non-existent.

Broad Overall Objectives

To achieve efficient and sustainable crop production systems.
To optimally contribute to food and nutrition security at national and household level.

Policy Principles

An appropriate balance be pursued between subsistence and cash crop production.
Commercialization of crop production be promoted, with diversification towards high value crops.
Food security be improved by ensuring food supplies at lowest cost rather than raising domestic production at high cost.

Policy Practical Elements

Integration of soil conservation and land rehabilitation with crop production.
Crop production planning be linked to AEZ and land suitability, phasing out rainfed production in non suitable zones and replacing by irrigated or livestock production.
Farmers be advised on appropriate crop selection and techniques to reduce effects of drought.
Management levels and farming technology be improved.

Policy Supportive Elements

Reference is made to the ALUP (1.1.2).

SUMMARY STRATEGY PROPOSALS

The crop production strategy incorporates the relevant higher level strategy elements, in particular the ALUP strategy. Emphasis is on smallholder development on SNL. Essential elements are again environmental integration, land tenure and agroecological zoning. Important production aspects such as crop specific technology and marketing have to be worked out at lower level strategies.

To integrate environmental protection and crop production systems by adhering to environmentally sound practices, including soil conservation and control of the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
To introduce crop production systems for the rehabilitation of eroded and degraded rangelands, especially on high potential land in Highveld and Upper Middleveld.
To facilitate and secure investments on SNL by making appropriate changes in the tenure arrangements, e.g. by defining rights of holders and through leaseholds.
To involve the farmers, and in particular women, in the planning and decision making of cropping systems.
To stimulate commercialization and diversification of crop production systems through incentives and structural improvements with the dual aim to improve incomes and contribute to food security.
To advise and assist dry-land farmers in drought sensitive zones in the planning for other land uses or improve production through introduction of drought resistant crops, water harvesting and moisture retention techniques.
To improve household food and nutrient security by promoting small scale irrigation (including homestead gardens) and fruit trees.
To promote smallholder irrigation and innovative production systems such as permaculture.
To promote cultivation of crops to be processed in large- and small-scale agro-industries.
To improve seed production and distribution in accordance to farmers demands in the different agroecological zones.
To improve input delivery, crop storage, processing, transport and marketing through active participation of farmers associations.
To improve the functioning of extension services though restructuring following the needs and requirements of the farmers, with emphasis on crop differentiation and specialization in a zonal approach, and considering options of transferring extension responsibilities to the private sector.
To use agroecological zoning (AEZ) and land suitability for the selection and promotion of crops and land utilization types. Recommended crops per AEZ or AEZ combination on suitable soils according to gross margins (mod. high over 1000E/ha, mod. low 500-1000E/ha) or potential are listed as follows:

Improved rainfed arable field cropping

sunflower : Highveld/Upper-Lower Middleveld/Lebombo moderately high gross margins, N/SW Lowveld mod. low gross margins;

groundnut : Upper-Lower Middleveld/Lebombo moderately high gross margins, N/SW Lowveld moderately low gross margins;

potato : Highveld probably moderately high gross margins;

maize : Highveld/Upper Middleveld/Upper Lebombo moderately high gross margins;

cowpea/bean : Upper Middleveld/Upper Lebombo moderately low gross margins (some potential in Lower Middleveld);

cotton : Upper-Lower Middleveld/Lebombo/N-SW Lowveld moderately high gross margins, SE Lowveld moderately low gross margins;

sorghum : although medium potential in all zones, only in Highveld moderately low gross margins, elsewhere low or negative, and not recommended.

Rainfed tree cropping

apple, pear, plum, peach, avocado: medium-high potential in Highveld; mango, granadilla, cashew, pecan nut, tung nut: medium-high potential in Upper Middleveld/Lebombo, mango also in Lower Middleveld.

Irrigated tree cropping

citrus, banana: medium-high potential in Lower Middleveld/Lowveld.

Irrigated medium-large scale commercial perennial field cropping

sugar cane: medium-high potential in Lower Middleveld/Lowveld.

Irrigated medium scale commercial annual field cropping

double cropping cotton, maize, groundnut, wheat, potato: medium-high potential in Lower Middleveld/Lowveld.

Irrigated smallholder semi-commercial annual field cropping

single cropping vegetables: medium-high potential in Middleveld/Lowveld; double cropping vegetables and annual crops: medium-high potential in Middleveld/Lowveld.

Irrigated micro-projects

single and double cropping vegetables: all zones.

KEY REFERENCE MATERIAL

Holm and Van Waveren, 1993. Cropping Strategy for SNL Farms.
Chapman, C., 1994. Water Resources and Irrigation.
Van Waveren et al. 1993. Crop Requirements with Special Reference to Climate and Soils.

MINISTERIAL INVOLVEMENT

MOAC.