National Agricultural Marketing Board

The National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBOARD) stands as a cornerstone of Eswatini's agricultural sector, dedicated to creating value for all stakeholders through dynamic trade regulation and farmer empowerment. Established by Act No. 13 of 1985, the organization operates from its head office on Masalesikhundleni Street in Manzini, serving as the primary link between local producers and both domestic and international markets. The team at NAMBOARD works tirelessly to accelerate import substitution, promote exports, and ensure that sustainable, innovative best practices meet rigorous international standards.

Farmers across the Kingdom of Eswatini rely on NAMBOARD for comprehensive support that spans production, processing, storage, transportation, and the sale of scheduled products. By registering wholesale distributors, importers, and exporters, the Board maintains a well-governed system that stabilizes supply chains and guarantees food security. This commitment extends into every community, where the organization's three operational functions—Farmer Support & Development, Market Facilitation, and Trade & Regulations—drive meaningful economic growth and poverty alleviation.

Core Mandate and Regulatory Role

The National Agricultural Marketing Board is empowered to register all wholesale distributors, importers, and exporters of scheduled agricultural products. This regulatory oversight ensures that market participants adhere to transparent, fair practices while maintaining consistent quality standards. By advising the Government on the availability and demand of scheduled products, NAMBOARD plays a critical role in shaping national policy and preventing market imbalances that could harm both producers and consumers.

Import Substitution and Export Promotion

A key pillar of the organization's strategy is accelerating import substitution by encouraging local production of goods that would otherwise be sourced from abroad. Simultaneously, the export promotion program opens doors for Eswatini's farmers to reach buyers in regional and global markets. Through structured trade agreements and marketing intelligence, NAMBOARD helps producers understand pricing trends, quality requirements, and logistics, making cross-border trade simpler and more profitable.

Ensuring Adherence to Standards

Meeting international standards is non‑negotiable in modern agriculture. The Board provides guidance on best practices for cultivation, post‑harvest handling, and packaging, ensuring that consignments consistently pass inspection at ports of entry. Regular audits and capacity‑building workshops keep farmers and traders up to date with evolving phytosanitary regulations, residue limits, and labeling laws, protecting Eswatini's reputation as a reliable supplier.

Market Facilitation Services

Market Facilitation is a core operational function that directly connects farmers to viable selling opportunities. The Encabeni Fresh Produce Market, located in Matsapha, serves as a physical trading hub where growers deliver fresh vegetables, fruits, and other horticultural products. Market Extension Officers stationed there provide real‑time price discovery, quality grading assistance, and logistical coordination, helping smallholders and commercial farmers alike negotiate fair deals.

Encabeni Fresh Produce Market

• Physical trading floor where farmers and buyers meet daily
• Price discovery and market intelligence shared via Extension Officers
• Post‑harvest handling advice to reduce losses and maintain freshness
• Aggregation and logistics support for larger buyers and institutional clients

Digital Market Access

Technology plays an increasingly important role in NAMBOARD's facilitation efforts. The Eswatini Horticulture Information System (EHIS) is a digital platform that provides critical data on horticulture production processes and real‑time crop availability. Farmers, buyers, input suppliers, marketers, retailers, and researchers use EHIS to make informed decisions about planting schedules, pricing, and procurement. The mobile application makes this data accessible even in remote areas, bridging the information gap that often disadvantages small‑scale producers.

Farmer Support and Development Programs

Developing sustainable farming businesses among smallholder and commercial producers is central to NAMBOARD's mission. The Farmer Support & Development Unit delivers targeted interventions that address the entire crop cycle, from land preparation to market readiness. These programs are designed to build resilience, improve yields, and enhance the livelihoods of farming families throughout the Hhohho District—including the community in Bulembu—and beyond.

Horticulture Revolving Fund

The Horticulture Revolving Fund provides accessible financing to farmers who need working capital for inputs, labor, and equipment. By recycling repayments into new loans, the fund creates a sustainable cycle of investment that gradually expands the number of beneficiaries. Priority is given to horticultural enterprises that demonstrate strong potential for import substitution and local market supply, aligning financial assistance with national food security goals.

Input Subsidy Scheme

Through the Horticulture Input Subsidy, NAMBOARD lowers the cost barrier for quality seeds, fertilizers, and crop protection products. This subsidy enables even the smallest growers to adopt improved varieties and modern agronomic practices, resulting in higher per‑hectare productivity. Participants receive technical training alongside the inputs, ensuring that the subsidy translates into measurable gains rather than waste.

Training and Extension Services

• Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training covering soil health, irrigation, and integrated pest management
• Post‑harvest management workshops to reduce losses and extend shelf life
• Business and financial literacy sessions that help farmers treat their operations as commercial enterprises
• On‑farm demonstrations of new technologies and crop varieties

Trade and Regulations Expertise

The regulatory division of NAMBOARD maintains a robust framework for licensing and monitoring agricultural trade. Every wholesaler, importer, and exporter dealing in scheduled products must register with the Board, creating a transparent database that aids market surveillance and policy planning. This division also handles border restriction notices, quota management, and compliance checks that keep the market orderly and fair.

Licensing and Compliance

Obtaining a license from NAMBOARD signals that a business meets the necessary standards for handling fresh produce and other regulated commodities. The application process includes facility inspections, documentation reviews, and verification of cold‑chain capabilities where applicable. Ongoing compliance monitoring helps weed out unlicensed traders who might undermine market stability or compromise food safety.

Advisory Role to Government

Drawing on real‑time data from its market facilitation and regulatory activities, NAMBOARD advises the Government on supply‑demand dynamics, price trends, and potential shortages. This intelligence informs import permit decisions, strategic reserve planning, and emergency response measures during droughts or other disruptions. By providing evidence‑based recommendations, the Board helps align national agricultural policy with ground‑level realities.

Horticulture Information System and Technology

The Eswatini Horticulture Information System (EHIS) epitomizes how NAMBOARD embraces technology to serve the agricultural community. The platform collates data on production volumes, crop calendars, input availability, and prevailing market prices. Stakeholders can access interactive dashboards that visualize trends, making it easier to spot opportunities and mitigate risks. The mobile application extends this functionality to smartphones, enabling real‑time updates even from the farm gate.

Buying and Selling on EHIS

EHIS functions as a virtual trading environment where registered users post availability and requirement notices. A farmer with a ready cabbage crop can list volumes, grades, and expected harvest dates, while a hotel procurement manager can browse listings and initiate contact. This matchmaking reduces transaction costs, shortens supply chains, and fosters direct relationships between producers and end‑users.

Data‑Driven Decisions

• Production planning based on historical demand patterns
• Price benchmarking against regional and international markets
• Input procurement coordination with approved suppliers
• Early warning alerts for pest outbreaks or weather threats

Why Customers Choose Us

Farmers and agribusinesses across Eswatini trust NAMBOARD because of its unwavering commitment to integrity, service, and innovation. The Board operates with a clear mandate, transparent processes, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by agricultural communities. Whether a smallholder in Bulembu seeks market access or a large commercial grower needs regulatory guidance, the team delivers consistent, professional support that creates real economic value.

Core Values in Action

• Integrity: all licensing, subsidy, and market facilitation decisions are made fairly and ethically
• Service: field staff maintain a visible presence in farming communities, offering hands‑on assistance
• Excellence: continuous improvement drives program design, from the Revolving Fund to EHIS
• Innovation: adoption of digital tools keeps Eswatini's agriculture competitive and forward‑looking
• Accountability: regular reporting and audits ensure that every public mandate is fulfilled responsibly
• Collaboration: partnerships with banks, input suppliers, and international agencies multiply impact

Serving Bulembu and the Hhohho District

While NAMBOARD's head office is in Manzini, its programs actively reach farmers throughout the Hhohho District, including the Bulembu area. Market Extension Officers travel to rural communities to register farmers, provide training, and gather data for EHIS. The Encabeni Fresh Produce Market also serves as an accessible trading point for producers from the northern regions, reducing the distance between harvest and sale.

The agricultural landscape around Bulembu is characterized by smallholder horticulture, where vegetables such as cabbages, tomatoes, onions, and leafy greens form the backbone of local livelihoods. NAMBOARD's input subsidies and revolving loans help these farmers afford quality seeds and fertilizers, while the market facilitation function ensures that surplus produce finds buyers instead of going to waste. This integrated approach strengthens household incomes and food security in one of the country's most scenic but economically constrained regions.

Hours, Location and Directions

The head office of the National Agricultural Marketing Board is located at the corner of Masalesikhundleni Street and Mbhabha Street, in Manzini M200, Eswatini. Visitors and farmers can call +268 7802 7437 to speak with the Market Facilitation team or reach the main office line at +268 2505 5315. Emails sent to info@namboard.co.sz receive prompt attention from the administration.

The Encabeni Fresh Produce Market, situated in Nokwane, Matsapha, operates as a secondary facility where trading activity concentrates early in the morning. Both locations observe standard business hours, with the head office open from 08:00 to 16:45 on weekdays and closing at 12:00 on Saturdays. The Board's website, www.namboard.co.sz, offers detailed maps, staff directories, and the latest news on tender opportunities and agricultural updates.

Questions Visitors Ask