Which crops are important to farming in Eswatini?

Farming in Eswatini involves a combination of subsistence and commercial practices. The staple crop is corn, while other subsistence crops include sorghum—primarily used for brewing traditional beer—as well as pumpkins, beans, peas, and various vegetables.1

The country’s largest agro-industry is the cultivation of sugarcane and the manufacture of sugar, which serves as a major export. Other significant commercial crops include:1

• Citrus fruits and cotton: Primarily grown in the Lowveld.1
• Pineapples: Cultivated in the Middleveld.1
• Other produce: Rice, tobacco, and various vegetables.1

Additionally, the forestry sector is of major commercial importance, with extensive man-made plantations of pine and eucalyptus in the Highveld providing timber for wood pulp and sawmills. While livestock farming—particularly cattle and goats—is a traditional store of wealth, it often exceeds the land's carrying capacity, leading to environmental challenges.1