US Ambassador to Swaziland, HE Lisa Peterson, today, officially launched initiatives that will provide 4,625MT of food, 66MT of seed, 6,000 bales of hay and potable water to over 50,000 people who have been negatively impacted by the El Niño-induced drought in twelve (12) constituencies across the 4 regions in the country. The launch took place at kaNgcampalala in Lubulini, in the Lubombo region.
The projects, which are supported by the United States Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by World Vision Swaziland, will help meet growing needs by providing food assistance, nutrition and health support, access to safe drinking water and seeds and livestock support to promote agricultural recovery. The total value of the projects is $5, 897, 300 (approx. E82, 562, 200) and will roll-out, parallel, in three-fold:
- Food Assistance – The provision of 8 months of conditional and unconditional food assistance to 45,328 beneficiaries in 6 constituencies across the 4 regions. A complete food basket, comprising mealie meal, beans and cooking oil, will be provided monthly to each of the beneficiaries throughout the drought period until the next harvest. The project will also provide supplementary feeding to Children under 5 (CU5) and Pregnant and Lactating Women (PLW) showing signs of Moderate Accurate Malnutrition (MAM).
Through this project, a total of 4,615 MT of food will be distributed to 6 constituencies, namely: Lubulini, Mtsambama, Nkwene, Mafutseni, Mkhiweni and Mahlangatane.
Target Population: 48,484 (Broken down as: Food for assets – 45,238 people, Children U5 – 500 and Pregnant and Lactating Women – 2,746)
Total Project Value: $4, 947, 300 (approx. E69, 262,200)
- Agriculture and Food Security – Improving food availability through support to agricultural production in Shiselweni and Lubombo regions, by improving Livestock and Agricultural Production/Food Security in Shewula, Mpolonjeni, Sithobela, Somntongo and Matsanjeni constituencies. The project will further implement trainings for beneficiaries on Conservation Agriculture and how to reduce or prevent possible loses of their produce.
Total Project Value: $900, 000 (approx. E12, 600, 000)
Target: 4,417 farmers – with 66MT of seeds (44MT of Sorghum and 22MT cowpeas)
4,291 cattle owners – with 6,000 hay bales for 20,000 cattle
- Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) – A water pipeline extension to increase access to potable water to an estimated 750 people in Matsetsa and Mcitsini communities under Lugongolweni constituency.
Project Value: $50,000 (E700, 000. 00)
