Subsistence Farming

In Swaziland
Presented by : Lambert, King, Hank
Swaziland location
Swaziland
Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South
Africa to its north, west, south, and southeast. At no more than 200 km (120 mi) north to south and 130 km (81 mi)
east to west, Eswatini is one of the smallest countries in Africa

Eswatini(formerly Swaziland）

Swazi Nation Land

Swazi Nation Land (SNL) is land in Swaziland which is under the rule of chiefs for settlement of Swazi people.[1] It is
vested in the King in trust of the nation. SNL communal land is typically used for pasture with livestock belonging to
residents of a chiefdom freely roaming。
Reason for type of agriculture
Extensive Farming
Definition: an agricultural production system that uses small inputs of labour, fertilizers, and capital, relative to the land
area being farmed.
Low availability of capital product :Swaziland as a poor country in Africa could not import numerous amounts of
fertilizers and capital products which requires a higher cost.Hence extensive farming makes it a more economically
viable option for many smallholder farmers who may not have access to resources or capital.
PS. This rate is 43 -tenths of one percent higher than the figure of 0.5% published in 2022. The GDP figure in 2023 was
$4,598 million, Eswatini is number 159 in the ranking of GDP of the 196 countries by world economics
Abundant amount of land:The country has a significant amount of land suitable for extensive grazing and cultivation,
as allowing farmers to raise livestock and grow crops over larger areas without the need for intensive inputs.
PS. The country occupies a total land area of 1.7 million hectares which consists of about 1.2 million hectares of
agricultural land,
Tradition: due to short independence and lack of modern technology of the country many people maintain their old
traditional way of growing crops, making it an integral part of their way of life.
 Reason for type of agriculture
Subsistence Farming
agricultural activity to produce food which is predominantly consumed by the farming household
Market: Many areas in Swaziland lack access to markets for selling surplus produce as it is a landlocked country and
have no ports for international trade, hence the demand for food is limited inside the country which is low As a result,
farmers focus on growing what they need for their own consumption and their household
PS. In 2022,Swaziland exported a total of $2.05B, making it the number 143 exporter in the world.
Food shortages: due to varying weathers and rainfall and change of fertaility of the soil( Swatini's general climate is
characterized as subtropical with wet hot summers (about 75% of the annual rainfall in the period from October to
March) and cold dry winters (April to September).), Many households rely on subsistence farming to meet their basic
food needs. This practice allows families to grow their own crops, ensuring they have enough to eat. Subsistence
farming also allows families to cultivate a variety of crops, improving dietary diversity and nutrition which meets their
backs needs
PS. It is estimated that 29 percent of the Eswatini population are facing severe acute food insecurity and urgently require
humanitarian assistance. The prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition remains a pressing concern across the
country.
Different farming in different regions

Features of different areas

High veld might use extensive farming as these are poor soil and to get enough yield
to support a whole family farmers would need a large area of land to neutralize the
poor nutrition
Middle and low veld farmers might use intensive farming as their land is rich in
nutrition and could gain a lot of yield from a small piece of land. Due to the limited
amount of rich land the price for the land would be high limiting the amount that
some farmers have to 3 hectares.Last but not least due to the benefits of rich land
these farmers might be able to buy more modernized equipments like fertilizers and
tractors which promotes them to use intensive farming
The Lubombo uplands might use intensive farming and extensive farming combined
according to the nutrition condition eahc farmers pocessed
Physical input Yearly farming processes/cycles
A lot of cattle are grazed on the Swazi National Land.
The stock is guarded and controlled on the unfenced
land by herd boys.

In the dry winters, pastures are burned to get rid of the

coarse dry grass and allow new nutritious shoots to
emerge.

Swaziland’s rains come in the summer (starting roughly

in October), so this is when the maize(main crop in Swaziland) seeds
*The input of land is usually small units of up to 3 hectares.
are sown.

Human input The lands are ploughed in June, before the rains are
expected.
1. Labour is generally from family members. In recent
years, women have played a particularly important role, Following the harvest in April and May, cattle may graze the fields.
because many men have left the country to work in the The steeper slopes in the High Veld are terraced.
mines in neighboring South Africa.

2. Traditional knowledge is important and many people

are still guided by religion and custom in how they live Outputs and usage
their lives.
The harvested maize is milled at home to produce
3. There is little use of fertiliser, although there may be flour, which is then cooked and eaten by the family.
some animal manure in the winter. There is also some production of millet and vegetables
(such as cabbages, tomatoes and pumpkins) to vary the
4. There is simple irrigation in the Middle and Low Velds, family's diet. The cattle produce meat and milk.
which involves diverting water from nearby streams.
Problems
-SOCIAL: 1. Young people not interested. Lack of labors and declining innovation

-POLITICAL: 1. Political instability. Inconsistent agriculture policies influence on investment.

-ECONOMIC: 1. Lack of Capital. Limited access to credit causes it is difficult to invest

-ENVIRONMENTAL: 1. Drought. Leads to water and food shortage. 2. Animal diseases. Leads to loss of
livestock. 3. Soil erosion. Loss of productive land and decreased crops yields. 4. Overstocking. Leads to
overgrazing and degrade land, contributes to soil erosion. Affects biodiversity.

-DEMOGRAPHIC: 1. HIV/AIDS weakening workforce. Premature death and care burdens reduce productivity.

-INFRASTRUCTURE: 1.Road challenges. Difficult to transport goods and increased transportation costs
Solutions
1. Drought (Environmental):
The government has implemented water conservation initiatives, including rainwater harvesting and the
construction of small dams and reservoirs to ensure water availability during dry periods. Additionally,
there have been efforts to promote drought-resistant crop varieties among farmers.
2. Lack of Capital (Economic):
In an effort to stimulate economic growth and access to finance, the Swaziland government has
supported initiatives that bolster microfinance institutions and cooperatives. Programs have been
established to provide financial literacy training and access to capital for small and medium-sized
enterprises.
3. Young People Not Interested (Social):
The government has introduced youth empowerment programs aimed at engaging young people in
entrepreneurship and vocational training. Initiatives include promoting skills development and
employment opportunities in sectors like tourism and agriculture to attract youth participation.
4. HIV/AIDS Weakening the Workforce (Demographic):
Swaziland has been active in implementing national strategies to combat HIV/AIDS, including
widespread testing, treatment programs, and education campaigns about prevention. The government
has partnered with international organizations to provide therapy and support services for affected
individuals.
Solutions
5. Roads (Infrastructure):
Investments have been made to improve the road network through rehabilitation and construction of new
roads, focusing on rural connectivity to promote trade and access to services. Funding for these projects has
often come from international donors and development partners.
6. Animal Diseases (Environmental):
The government has enacted veterinary services to monitor and control animal diseases. Initiatives include
vaccination campaigns, public awareness programs about animal health, and partnerships with regional
organizations to enhance animal health management.
7. Soil Erosion (Environmental):
To combat soil erosion, the government has promoted sustainable land management practices, including the
establishment of terraces, cover crops, and afforestation projects. Education and training for farmers on
conservation agriculture techniques have also been implemented.
8. Overstocking (Environmental):
The government has engaged in initiatives to promote sustainable grazing practices, including rotational
grazing systems and herd management strategies to reduce pressure on land resources. Programs aimed at
educating pastoralists about optimal livestock management have also been pursued.
9. Political Instability (Political):
In response to political unrest, the government has engaged in dialogues with various stakeholders, including
civil society and political organizations, to address grievances and promote stability. There have also been
calls for reforms aiming at greater political inclusivity and participation.