By Yohane Chideya, Wilson Nkhata, Nicholas Manana, Kwazi Mkhonta, and Jean Claude Rubyogo
In the heart of Eswatini, where rolling hills meet vast open fields, one humble crop plays a vital role in both kitchens and markets—dry beans. For many rural households, these legumes are more than just a staple; they are a lifeline, providing nourishment as a rich relish and a source of income through local sales.
With a population of just over a million, the Kingdom has embraced common bean farming as a widespread agricultural practice, drawing more farmers into its cultivation each season. Despite the country’s small size—just 17,364 km²—its farmers are passionate about their beans. However, like much of Southern Africa, Eswatini faces unpredictable weather, with dry spells and hailstorms threatening crop yields. Still, beans remain resilient, thriving best in the higher-altitude regions but adaptable enough to be grown across the entire country. As interest in this versatile crop continues to grow, farmers are finding innovative ways to overcome climate challenges and make the most of Eswatini’s fertile lands.
Display of different bean varieties in a farmer’s agricultural show, Eswatini
Despite being a vital staple for many rural households, dry bean production in Eswatini remains low, forcing the country to rely heavily on imports. More than 80% of the beans consumed locally are sourced from international suppliers (Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa). In 2023, small-scale farmers produced just 582.5 metric tons of bean grain post the COVID-19 pandemic, while over the past three years, annual production averaged 1,177 metric tons – far short of the country’s average annual consumption of 7,370 metric tons. This leaves a supply deficit of approximately 6,193 metric tons per year, which must be covered by imports. According to the National Maize Corporation (NMC), this dependence not only widens the supply gap but also drives up consumer prices, making beans less affordable for many households.
The shortage is not merely a result of demand exceeding supply—it reflects deeper systemic challenges. The erratic climatic weather conditions that we continue to endure disrupt the planting patterns and thus farmers experience irregular rainfall patterns. Other challenges include lack of appropriate technology including farm implements (planters, threshers, harvesters), lack of improved varieties, biotic stresses, livestock encroachment and post-harvest losses which continue to back paddle our efforts to upscale bean production in the country, hindering Eswatini’s ability to achieve self-sufficiency. Without strategic investments in modern farming techniques, infrastructure, and farmer support programs, the country will remain dependent on costly imports rather than unlocking its own agricultural potential.
Efforts to address the status quo
The government, traders, and other stakeholders are making concerted efforts to advance bean farming by focusing on key areas such as breeding, nutrition, capacity building, seed systems, and market development. These initiatives aim to enhance productivity, improve seed quality, and ensure farmers have access to the necessary resources and knowledge for sustainable bean cultivation.
One significant effort is the participatory yield trial for large and medium, red-speckled beans, conducted in collaboration with the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT through its Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA-Africa) Program. Additionally, two new sugar bean varieties (DAB 386 and NUA 674) have been released, contributing to increased diversity and resilience in bean production. To support seed availability, at least five tons of basic seed for sugar beans and one ton of red-mottled seed will be produced. Further efforts include facilitating the production of at least 40 tons of certified seed under CGIAR’s Seed Equal Initiative, with support from the government.
Capacity-building initiatives are also being prioritized. As part of these efforts, 30 seed producers have been trained, and 4,000 farmers will receive training to enhance their skills as dry bean grain producers. Moreover, evaluations of low soil fertility and drought-tolerant bean lines are being conducted in two locations with government support to identify the most suitable varieties for challenging environments.
To combat pests and diseases, a comprehensive bean pest and disease management guide, along with informational pamphlets, is being developed with support from Seed Equal and the government. Furthermore, bean promotion efforts are extending to educational institutions, with 50 schools involved and 50 more to be added from this financial year (2025) in initiatives in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the government, ensuring that students benefit from improved nutrition and agricultural education. In addition to these initiatives, the DARSS in collaboration with school feeding program inspectors are in the process of identifying 20 schools to promote the bio-fortified variety (NUA 45), through setting up demonstration plots and conducting sensory evaluation for this variety, which seems to receive low adoption from scholars. These collective actions aim to strengthen bean consumption, farming, enhance productivity, and ensure food security for farmers and consumers alike.
Government support for youth and women
Bean farming could transform bean production by encouraging participation
Like in many African countries, young people in Eswatini—particularly those aged 18 to 35—are the most affected by unemployment, with nearly half struggling to find jobs. According to World Bank data, as of 2023, the agriculture sector accounted for only 14% of total employment, highlighting its untapped potential in reducing joblessness. To address this, the government has prioritized young people and women in its agricultural initiatives. The Ministry of Agriculture has taken a proactive approach by organizing National Youth Platforms, which showcase agricultural opportunities and innovative bean-based products like jam, encouraging youth participation in the sector. The government through the Ministry of Agriculture has also set up a fund (Eswatini Agricultural Development Fund), to assist youth and farmers with loans to start farming business enterprises. The government has also through its agricultural parastatals, introduced funding initiatives for farmers such as Hamba Ubuye housed at Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE), Input subsidy at National Maize Corporation (NMC) and National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA).
The move is encouraging more young people to embrace agriculture, actively contributing to the government’s vision for the sector. This shift is reflected in the increasing participation of youth in dry bean production training programs, with a strong emphasis on sustainable farming practices.
“From past on-farm demonstrations, two promising bean varieties—DAB 411 and DAB 437—emerged and were submitted to the National Variety Release Committee for consideration. Additionally, several bean production training sessions have been conducted, with most participants being young people and women. Beyond training, we have also facilitated multi-stakeholder engagements to introduce various agricultural initiatives across Eswatini. Despite challenges such as dry spells and hailstorms affecting the growing seasons, seed growers have successfully cultivated beans in different regions, with several groups actively producing certified seed of Kranskop and NUA 45 bean seed,” says Nicholas Manana, Eswatini Bean Program Coordinator.
Eswatini imports more beans to meet high demand
By bridging the bean supply deficit, Eswatini can reduce its reliance on costly imports, keeping more money within the local economy. This shift will not only strengthen the country’s agricultural sector but also create much-needed employment opportunities for youth and women. Additionally, investing in local bean production will enhance food security, promote sustainable farming practices, and empower small-scale farmers, driving long-term economic growth.