The Swazi agricultural sector is undergoing major development with the Old Mutual Swaziland Agrifund, boasting the most technologically advanced milking system in Africa.

This is according to Jonas Mushosho, Old Mutual Chief Executive Officer: Rest of Africa who spoke at the official launch of the Old Mutual Swaziland Agrifund, a partnership between Old Mutual, Eswatini National Provident Fund (SNPF), and the Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF), hosted at the flagship dairy farm.

The E200m Fund was established in 2012 and has managed to acquire three farms with two of them being converted into dairy farms. The remaining land has been set aside to farm blueberries and baby vegetables.

Construction of the dairy farm started in October 2015 and the farms are already fully operational with 40 full-time employees, 1000 dairy cows roaming the farm, over 600 cows under milking, and producing about 9000 litres of milk a day. The newly constructed 12 million litre dam is sufficient to sustain the farm for three years in times of water shortages, explains Mr. Mushosho.

“A joint venture between dairy operator, Swazi Milk, and the Old Mutual Swaziland Agrifund has been concluded to ensure that the Fund is invested in both the fixed farm equipment and production. Swazi Milk has thus contributed E40 million to the operation of the farm. We are also looking at export opportunities for our dairy products and we will soon be ready to start farming cattle for beef consumption and can then explore export opportunities to markets beyond Africa,” he says.

Mr. Mushosho further welcomed the invaluable contribution made by all partners involved.

“This is a significant achievement for us supporting the commitment towards achieving food security in Swaziland as part of Vision 2022 to truly raise the capability of the agricultural sector,” says Mr. Mushosho.

He further highlighted that prior to the establishment of the Old Mutual Swaziland Agrifund over 90% of the milk and dairy products produced by Parmalat and consumed in Swaziland were imported from South Africa.

“All the milk that Parmalat requires in Swaziland is now produced by this farm. The 2022 Vision for agriculture and food security is well on its way to being realised,” said Mr. Mushosho.

The Old Mutual Swaziland Agrifund has also partnered with the University of Swaziland to develop the Swazi community and train agriculture students on large-scale farming which will see them taking up meaningful roles in the dairy farming value chain.

For more information please view our Q and A document.