The agricultural market is the major contributor to the Swazi economy with the sector employing 70 percent of the population. Despite this, agriculture as a percentage of GDP has been steadily decreasing for the past two decades.

Swaziland has a subtropical climate with temperatures of 15 to 25 degrees Celsius during summer and 15 to 19 degrees Celsius in winter. The country has a wide range of habitats and is blessed with a wide range of plants and animals.  Due to the aridity of the climate, only 20 – 25 percent of the water required for crops is met by rainfall. Rainfall distribution is unreliable and for maximizing production yields the fields must be irrigated.

With drought and an absence of proper irrigation systems being a reality in Swaziland, farming is a constant challenge.  In recent years, the country has had to endure below average and overall declining food production because of erratic rainfall patterns. Due to this, over 400,000 people in Swaziland require imported food aid to meet basic subsistence.  The consequences: a steady downturn in employment and rapidly increased poverty.

Due to an increased demand within Swaziland for a limited food supply, imports from South Africa are relied upon. It is unsustainable to depend on South Africa for what Swaziland cannot produce itself. For ordinary Swazis, access is limited to start new businesses initiatives; there is simply no capital. The totality of these factors prevents increases in domestic farm production from occurring.