Partnership
Regional and national commodity associations are welcome to take membership with the Union. Farmers are encouraged to participate in commodity associations in order to reap the benefit of collective bargaining. There a few commodities that are at least well-coordinated in the country and present good lessons for adoption by farmers in other commodities. Such commodities as sugar cane, citrus and cotton have well organized supporting structures and well-coordinated markets. SNAU has earmarked the grain, vegetable and piggery commodities for establishing vibrant commodity associations that will spearhead economic improvement for farmers.SNAU Partners below:
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
The main partner of SNAU is IFAD who has funded the initial activities undertaken by the organization since its inception in 2009 and this support spans for a period of three years to-date. IFAD through SACAU is financing SNAU to implement a programme called Support to Farmer Organizations in Africa Programme (SFOAP).
The programme specifically supports three components namely Strengthening Institutional Capacity, Policy engagement, and Economic Service Provision. Currently the secretariat (salaries, office equipment) are financed under this partnership.
Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU)
SNAU is a member of the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) which groups together national farmers organization in the SADC region. This has given SNAU an opportunity to learn from other farmers organizations in the regions through interactions in SACAU’s functions. SACAU was also instrumental in the establishment of SNAU by providing the foundational and critical capacity in both executive and secretariat leadership. SACAU also supported SNAU to source funding for the acquisition of essential human resources, equipment and tools to establish a secretariat and carry out initial activities.
Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)
From the initial inception stages MOA (Ministry of Agriculture) also assisted SNAU by enlisting SACAU to provide expertise in establishment of farmer’s organization. Moreover, MOA has provided SNAU of office space and legal expertise on the registration of SNAU.
The Swaziland Agricultural Development Programme (SADP) which is housed within the Ministry of Agriculture donated a vehicle to the Union making operations a lot easier for the organization.
Technoserve
SNAU has forged partnerships with Technoserve for the implementation of food security projects that are funded by the European Union (EU).
The two projects are implemented in the Shiselweni and Lubombo regions with much focus on reducing food insecurity through the promotion of commercialization.
Micro Finance Unit (MFU)
A new partnership has been spearheaded with the Microfinance Unit (MFU) for improving farmer skills on agribusiness management. Through this partnership SNAU has commenced a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme in the 17 Rural Development Areas (RDAs) of the country with the aim of promoting farmer to farmer skills transfer.
Currently, 35 ToTs who are members of SNAU have been capacitated on two intensive agribusiness modules, an activity which is on-going.
COSPE
SNAU has forged partnerships with COSPE for the implementation of food security projects that are funded by the European Union (EU). The two projects are implemented in the Shiselweni and Lubombo regions with much focus on reducing food insecurity through the promotion of commercialization.
SFOAP
