In eSwatini, lead farmers are key to scaling up conservation agriculture practices throughout the country

The Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) describes conservation agriculture as a farming system that can prevent losses of arable land while regenerating degraded lands. To support the adoption of conservation agriculture techniques, the Resilient Food Systems eSwatini team conducted a training programme in the Manzini, Lubombo and Shiselweni regions. Within each constituency, the RFS eSwatini team selected 10 farmers to be trained and supported as lead farmers within their communities, with a particular emphasis on developing the capacity of women and elderly farmers. Led by the Chiefdom Development Unit, these farmers went through vigorous theoretical and practical training.